Reaction of half esters of an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated-al-pha, beta-dicarboxylic acid with a vicinal epoxy compound and products thereof

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A COPOLYMERIZABLE MONOMER, WHICH COMPRISES HEATING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL MOLAR QUANTITIES OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND A SATURATED ALCOHOL HAVING THE STRUCTURE R2OH, WHEREIN R2 IS AN ALKYL GROUP OF FROM 1 TO 18 CARBON ATOMS AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 80*C. TO 150*C TO FORM A MALEIC ACID HALF-ESTER, IMMEDIATELY ISOMERIZING SAID MALEIC ACID HALF-ESTER AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 80*C. TO 150*C. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ISOMERIZATION CATALYST, TO CONVERT SAID MALEIC ACID HALF-ESTER TO A FUMARIC ACID HALF-ESTER, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY REACTING SAID FUMARIC ACID HALF-ESTER WITH OXIRANE SEGMENT OF EPOXIDIZED SOYBEAN OIL AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 80*C. TO 200*C. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OXIRANE RING OPENING CATALYST, WHEREBY NO POLYMERIZATION OF AN ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED GROUP TAKES PLACE UNDER THE REACTION CONDITIONS.