Dissolution of ekonol in trifluoromethanesulphonic acid

The polyester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was examined in solutions of anhydrous trifluoromethanesulphonic acid by 13C n.m.r. The polyester was found to degrade in this strong acid, contradicting published reports of its solubility. Infra-red spectroscopy also showed evidence of polymer degradation, and n.m.r. experiments showed simple ester cleavage was the degradation mechanism.