SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF AMINOBORATES DERIVED FROM BORIC ACID AND DIOLS FOR PROTECTING WOOD AGAINST FUNGAL AND THERMAL DEGRADATION1

Abstract. N-methyl amino catechol borate (1), N-methyl amino-4-methyl catechol borate (2), N-methyl amino-4-t-butyl catechol borate (3), and N-methyl amino-2, 3-naphthyl borate (4) were synthesized by reflux of boric acid with a diol in solvent N,N-dimethyl formamide. The aminoborates were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Wood impregnated with aminoborate 1, 3, or 4 after 2-wk water leaching was able to prevent decay by a brown-and white-rot fungus. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that wood impregnated with aminoborate 1 or 4 had a high char yield. DSC showed that the pyrolysis pathway of wood treated with aminoborates proceeds by depolymerization of cellulose. Chars formed from wood impregnated with aminoborates were more stable to thermal degradation than the control