Abstract
A side reaction was found in the reaction of a 2‐oxazoline compound with a carboxylic acid. It is an oxazoline ring opening addition to an amide group formed by the main reaction. In addition, certain phosphites were found to act as catalyst for the side reaction. The rate constants of the main and side reactions in the system of 2‐phenyl‐2‐oxazoline andn‐octanoic acid were obtained through simulation of the reactions on an analog computer. The side reaction makes it impossible for a very high molecular weight polymer to form in the reaction of a bis‐2‐oxazoline with a dicarboxylic acid, but makes it possible for a new crosslinked polymer to form when excess bis‐2‐oxazoline and a dicarboxylic acid are heated in the presence of a certain phosphite.