DEVELOPMENT OF A CATALYST FOR SOLUTION OF POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) IN NON-AQUEOUS MEDIUM

Chloro ethane dimethyl sulfoxide, C2H5Cl·DMSO (ECl·DMSO) was prepared by interaction of acrylic acid with conc. Hydrochloric acid in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and subsequent decarboxylation with H2O2 solution. The formation of the compound was confirmed by spectral and analytical methods; the molecular weight was determined by cryoscopic method. The solubility of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in different solvents or mixed solvents at 40°C, 50°C and 60°C temperature in the presence of 0.01% of ECl·DMSO was determined. It turned out that ECl·DMSO helps dissolution of PVA, and is very effective catalyst in the preparation of esters and acetals of PVA.