Reaction #1188

Reaction equation

ethyl acetate

ammonium hydroxide

→

vinyl acetate

vinyl alcohol

Solvents

water

Conditions

Workup

1. 1
   workup.DISSOLUTIONthe polymer dissolved
2. 2
   Otherto give a gel
3. 3
   OtherDuring the next three weeks
4. 4
   Otherat room temperature
5. 5
   TemperatureAt this time the solution was heated
6. 6
   Otherto remove ammonia

Procedure

To 100 g of the same copolymer was added 1500 ml of ethyl acetate, 40 ml of concentrated ammonium hydroxide and 40 ml of water. After two days with stirring, the polymer dissolved to give a gel. During the next three weeks at room temperature, a progressive decrease in viscosity of the solution was noted. At this time the solution was heated to remove ammonia, giving a partially saponified polymer of composition 32.4 wt % vinyl acetate, 16.4 wt % vinyl alcohol, 38 wt % TFE, and 13.2 wt % HFP in a 27.4 wt % solids solution in ethyl acetate.

Source