Synthesis and characterization aromatic copolyesters bearing pendant norbornenyl groups

4, 4'-(Bicyclo (2.2.1) hept-5-en-2 yl methylene) bis (2-methoxyphenol) (BPA-NB) was polymerized via phase transfer catalyzed interfacial polycondensation with an equimolar mixture (50:50 mol %) of isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) and terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) to obtain aromatic copolyester bearing pendant norbornenyl groups (PES-NB). Furthermore, three different compositions of BPA-NB and bisphenol A (BPA) were polycondensed with IPC to obtain a series of copolyesters. 1 H NMR spectroscopy confirmed the chemical structure and compositions of PES-NBs. Inherent viscosity and number-average molecular weight values of PES-NBs were in the range 0.82 to 1.06 dL·g −1 and 63,600 to 95,300 g·mol −1 , respectively, indicating the formation of polymers of reasonably high molecular weights. PES-NBs readily dissolved in common organic solvents such as chloroform, dichloromethane, and tetrahydrofuran, and tough, transparent, flexible films could be cast from their chloroform solutions. X-Ray diffraction studies indicated amorphous nature of PES-NBs. Glass transition temperature (T g ) values of PES-NBs were in the range 215 to 195°C and T g values increased with the increase in mol % of BPA-NB.