Hydroxylated nylons based on unprotected esterified D-glucaric acid by simple condensation reactions

Convenient procedures are described for the preparation of hydroxylated nylons (polyhydroxypolyamides) from D-glucaric acid. The procedures, which do not require protection/deprotection of carbohydrate hydroxyl groups, can be used to make a variety of polymers with a range of properties from D-glucaric acid. Simple alcohol (e.g. methanol or ethanol) esterification mixtures of D-glucaric acid (from oxidation of D-glucose) were reacted with bis-primary diamines in a polar solvent, typically methanol, to produce the polyamides. D-Glucaric acid esterification mixtures contain varying amounts of dialkyl D-glucarate, alkyl D-glucarate 1,4-lactone, and alkyl D-glucarate 6,3-lactone