
11 Poly(naphthalates)
The industrial synthesis methods of polyesters trace
back to Carothers. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)
was discovered by Whinfield and Dickson in the 1940s
[1–3]. At the same time, poly(ethylene naphthalate)
was described in the literature [4]. The industrial pro-
duction started soon afterward by ICI and DuPont.
11.1 Monomers
11.1.1 Naphthalenedicarboxylic
Acid
Crude 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid (2,6-
NDA) can be prepared by oxidizing 2,6-dialkylnaph-
thalenes in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen
in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and an
oxidation promoter. Typically, such catalysts include
mixtures of cobalt ...