Description
Bisphenoxyethanolfluorene (also name 4,4′-(9-Fluorenylidene)bis(2-phenoxyethanol); BPEF) is a low-mass compound, primarily used in the preparation of polymer resins and films. Research indicates that adding BPEF reduces the orientation birefringence of thermally stretched cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) films.
Chemical Properties
White powder
Uses
4,4′-(9-Fluorenylidene)bis(2-phenoxyethanol) may be used for the following syntheses:
- poly-(carbotetramethyldisiloxane)s, containing poly[oxy{4,4′-(9-fluorenylidene)bis(2-phenoxyethylene)}oxytetramethyldisiloxane] (a fluorescent aromatic chromophore group)
- poly[oxy(arylene)oxy(tetramethyldisilylene)]s, containing fluorescent aromatic chromophore groups in the polymer main chain, via melt copolymerization reaction with 1,2-bis(diethylamino)tetramethyldisilane
General Description
4,4′-(9-Fluorenylidene)bis(2-phenoxyethanol) is an aryldiol.
Synthesis
The general procedure of Example 12 was as follows:(a) In a glass reactor equipped with a stirrer, a nitrogen introduction tube, a thermometer and a T-tube, 80.0 g (0.444 mol) of 9-fluorenone, 613.5 g (4.44 mol) of 2-phenoxyethanol and 2.0 g of tungstophosphoric acid catalyst [(H3PW12O40).nH2O] were added. (b) The mixture was reacted at 130°C for 4 hours under reduced pressure of 2.0 x 1.03 Pa. Upon completion of the reaction, the amount of polymers in the reaction mixture was 3.9%. To the reaction mixture was added 800.0 g of toluene, neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide and washed with water to separate the organic phase. Toluene and excess 2-phenoxyethanol were removed from the organic phase by concentration under reduced pressure. To the concentrate was added 560.0 g of toluene, and the mixture was heated and stirred at 80 °C for 1 hour, then cooled to 70 °C. 0.4 g of 9,9-bis[(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)]fluorene was added as a crystalline species, and the mixture was held at 70°C for 2 hours and then cooled to 20°C. The precipitated crystals were filtered and dried to give 78.0 g of white crystals 9,9-bis[(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)]fluorene (yield: 90.2%, purity: 99.2%). The melting point of the resulting product was 163 °C.
References
[1] Patent: US2012/29244, 2012, A1. Location in patent: Page/Page column 15
[2] Patent: JP6139508, 2017, B2. Location in patent: Paragraph 0024
[3] Patent: EP2123625, 2009, A1. Location in patent: Page/Page column 6
[4] Chemistry Letters, 1998, # 10, p. 1055 - 1056
