Abstract: A phthalic anhydride, a phenol, a catalyst, and a promoter are reacted to form a reaction mixture comprising phenolphthalein. The reaction mixture is treated with a first solvent system to form a slurry. The first solvent system comprises a first polar organic solvent. In some embodiments the first solvent system additionally comprises a non-polar organic solvent. Use of the solvent system to treat the reaction mixture simplifies subsequent purification.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for preparing 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines having a formula of: wherein R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0–4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently an aromatic radical, are disclosed. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compounds are useful for preparing other useful monomers and polymers.

Abstract: A method for purifying a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine comprises contacting a crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine with a purification agent, removing a 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound from the crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and producing a purified 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product comprising less than 200 parts per million of the 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound. The purification agent is selected from the group consisting of an acidic material, an organic acid chloride, an organic anhydride, or a combination thereof. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound has a formula: wherein each R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0 to 4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are independently at each occurrence an aromatic radical.

Abstract: A method for increasing a mean particle size of a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine is provided. The method comprises forming a mixture comprising a feedstream of the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and a solvent composition comprising an organic solvent and water, wherein the organic solvent is capable of at least partially dissolving the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine and forming an adduct with the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine. Then the mixture is heated at a temperature and for a time effective to decompose the adduct and form a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product having a mean particle size greater than 5 microns. The 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines with increased particle size are useful for producing polymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to organic salt compositions useful in the preparation of organoclay compositions, polymer-organoclay composite compositions, and methods for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the present invention provides novel organophosphonium salts having structure I wherein Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are independently C2-C50 aromatic radicals; Ar4 is a bond or a C2-C50 aromatic radical; “a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C2-C20 aromatic radical; R2 is a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C2-C50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain; and X? is a charge balancing counterion. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methodologies for the preparation of organophosphonium salts having structure I.

Abstract: This invention relates to organic salt compositions useful in the preparation of organoclay compositions, polymer-organoclay composite compositions, and methods for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an organoclay composition comprising alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, said organic layers comprising a quaternary phosphonium cation having structure X wherein Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are independently C2-C50 aromatic radicals; Ar4 is a bond or a C2-C50 aromatic radical; “a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C2-C20 aromatic radical; and R2 is a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C2-C50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for preparing 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines having a formula of: wherein R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0-4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently an aromatic radical, are disclosed. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compounds are useful for preparing other useful monomers and polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.

Abstract: A method for purifying a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine comprises contacting a crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine with a purification agent, removing a 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound from the crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and producing a purified 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product comprising less than 200 parts per million of the 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound. The purification agent is selected from the group consisting of an acidic material, an organic acid chloride, an organic anhydride, or a combination thereof. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound has a formula: wherein each R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0 to 4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are independently at each occurrence an aromatic radical.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for preparing 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines having a formula of: wherein R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0-4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are each independently an aromatic radical, are disclosed. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compounds are useful for preparing other useful monomers and polymers.

Abstract: A method for increasing a mean particle size of a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine is provided. The method comprises forming a mixture comprising a feedstream of the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and a solvent composition comprising an organic solvent and water, wherein the organic solvent is capable of at least partially dissolving the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine and forming an adduct with the 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine. Then the mixture is heated at a temperature and for a time effective to decompose the adduct and form a 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product having a mean particle size greater than 5 microns. The 2-hydrocarbyl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines with increased particle size are useful for producing polymers.

Abstract: A method for recovering and reusing a ring-halogenation catalyst comprises: (A) contacting an aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine in the presence of a catalyst composition, where the catalyst composition comprises at least one salt comprising a Group 4-13 metal, a lanthanide metal, or an actinide metal; and at least one organic counterion derived from an organic acid having a pKa relative to water of 0 or greater; and at least one organic sulfur compound; to form a first product mixture comprising a monochloro or a monobromo aromatic compound and a Group 4-13 metal halide, a lanthanide metal halide or an actinide metal halide; (B) separating the metal halide from the first product mixture; and (C) contacting at least a portion of the metal halide and an aromatic compound with chlorine or bromine, and at least one organic sulfur compound; to form a second product mixture comprising a monochloro or a monobromo aromatic compound and a Group 4-13 metal halide, a lanthanide metal halide or an actinide metal

Abstract: A method for ring-halogenating an aromatic compound comprises contacting with chlorine or bromine, a mixture comprising the aromatic compound and a mixed copper salt of formula Cu(Y)X, where Y comprises a counterion derived from an organic acid, where the organic acid has a pKa relative to water of 0 or greater; and X comprises Cl, Br, I, or (SO42?)1/2; to produce a reaction mixture comprising a haloaromatic compound and a copper(II) halide residue.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from an aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.