Polymorphism of 2,5‐[(diphenylphosphanyl)methyl]‐1,1,2,4,4,5‐hexaphenyl‐1,4‐diphospha‐2,5‐diboracyclohexane

2,5‐[(Diphenylphosphanyl)methyl]‐1,1,2,4,4,5‐hexaphenyl‐1,4‐diphospha‐2,5‐diboracyclohexane shows polymorphism as two tetrahydrofuran (THF) disolvates [C₆₄H₅₈B₂P₄·2C₄H₈O, (Ia) and (Ib)] and pseudo‐polymorphism as its toluene monosolvate [C₆₄H₅₈B₂P₄·C₇H₈, (Ic)]. In each of polymorphs (Ia) and (Ib), the diphosphadiboracyclohexane molecule is located on a centre of inversion. The THF molecule of (Ib) is disordered over two sites, with a site‐occupation factor of 0.612 (8) for the major‐occupied site. Both structures crystallize in the same space group (P2₁/n), but they display a different crystal packing. For pseudo‐polymorph (Ic), although the space group is P2₁/c, which is just a different setting of the P2₁/n space group of (Ia) and (Ib), the crystal packing is completely different. Although the crystal packing in these three structures is significantly different, their molecular conformations are surprisingly the same.     

Two polymorphs of 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4‐methylchromenium perchlorate

Crystallization (from ethyl acetate solution) of 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4‐methylchromenium perchlorate, C₁₆H₁₂ClO⁺·;ClO₄⁻, (I), yields two monoclinic polymorphs with the space groups P2₁/n [polymorph (Ia)] and P2₁/c [polymorph (Ib)]; in both cases, Z = 4. Cations and anions, disordered in polymorph (Ib), form ion pairs in both polymorphs as a result of Cl—O...π interactions. Related by a centre of symmetry, neighbouring ion pairs in polymorph (Ia) are linked viaπ–π interactions between cationic fragments, and the resulting dimers are linked through a network of C—H...O(perchlorate) interactions between adjacent cations and anions. The ion pairs in polymorph (Ib), arranged in pairs of columns along the a axis, are linked through a network of C—H...O(perchlorate), C—Cl...π, π–π and C—Cl...O(perchlorate) interactions. The aromatic skeletons in polymorph (Ia) are parallel in the cationic fragments involved in dimers, but nonparallel in adjacent ion pairs not constituting dimers. In polymorph (Ib), these skeletons are parallel in pairs of columns, but nonparallel in adjacent pairs of columns; this is visible as a herring‐bone pattern. Differences in the crystal structures of the polymorphs are most probably the cause of their different colours.     

Two polymorphs,with Z′ = 1 and 2, of 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐morpholino­pyrimidine in P21/c,and 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐piperidino­pyrimidine,which is isomorphous and almost isostructural with the Z′ = 2 polymorph

Crystallization of 2‐amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐morpholino­pyrimidine, C₈H₁₁ClN₄O, (I), yields two polymorphs, both with space group P2₁/c, having Z′ = 1 (from diethyl ether solution) and Z′ = 2 (from di­chloro­methane solution), denoted (Ia) and (Ib), respectively. In polymorph (Ia), the mol­ecules are linked by an N—H⋯O and an N—H⋯N hydrogen bond into sheets built from alternating R(8) and R(40) rings. In polymorph (Ib), one mol­ecule acts as a triple acceptor of hydrogen bonds and the other acts as a single acceptor; one N—H⋯O and three N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules in a complex chain containing two types of R(8) and one type of R(18) ring. 2‐Amino‐4‐chloro‐6‐piperidino­pyrimidine, C₉H₁₃ClN₄, (II), which is isomorphous with polymorph (Ib), also has Z′ = 2 in P2₁/c, and the mol­ecules are linked by three N—­H⋯N hydrogen bonds into a centrosymmetric four‐mol­ecule aggregate containing three R(8) rings.     

Polymorphism and solvolysis of 2‐cyano‐3‐[4‐(N,N‐diethyl­amino)­phenyl]­prop‐2‐ene­thio­amide

Two new polymorph forms, (Ia) and (Ib), of the title compound, C₁₄H₁₇N₃S, and its solvate with aceto­nitrile, C₁₄H₁₇N₃S·0.25C₂H₃N, (Ic), have been investigated. Crystals of the two polymorphs were grown from different solvents, viz. ethanol and N,N‐di­methyl­form­amide, respectively. The polymorphs have different orientations of the thio­amide group relative to the CN substituent, with s‐cis and s‐trans geometry of the C=C—C=S diene fragment, respectively. Compound (Ic) contains two independent mol­ecules, A and B, with s‐cis geometry, and the solvate mol­ecule lies on a twofold axis. The core of each mol­ecule is slightly non‐planar; the dihedral angles between the conjugated C=C—CN linkage and the phenyl ring, and between this linkage and the thio­amide group are 13.4 (2) and 12.0 (2)° in (Ia), 14.0 (2) and 18.2 (2)° in (Ib), 2.3 (3) and 12.7 (4)° in molecule A of (Ic), and 23.2 (3) and 8.1 (4)° in molecule B of (Ic). As a result of strong conjugation between donor and acceptor parts, the substituted phenyl rings have noticeable quinoid character. In (Ib), there exists a very strong intramolecular steric interaction (H⋯H = 1.95 Å) between the bridging and thio­amide parts of the mol­ecule, which makes such a form less stable. In the crystal structure of (Ia), intermolecular N—H⋯N and N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules into infinite tapes along the [10] direction. In (Ib), such intermolecular hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules into infinite (101) planes. In (Ic), intermolecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules A and B into dimers, which are connected via N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds and form infinite chains along the c direction.     

Two polymorphs of 4‐propyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐naphtho[1,2‐b]pyran‐5,6‐dione

Two polymorphs of the title compound, C₁₆H₁₆O₃, have been obtained from the same solution. One polymorph, (I_m), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁, while the other, (I_o), crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. The cell constants of the two polymorphs are surprisingly similar. Whereas the a and b axes are equal in the two structures, the c axis in (I_o) is twice as long as that in (I_m). The monoclinic angle β is 95.084 (9)° compared with 90° in the orthorhombic crystal system. The cell volume of (I_m) is almost exactly half of the cell volume of (I_o). The packing motifs are also very similar in the two structures. However, whereas the molecules in (I_m) are related by a twofold screw axis just in the direction of the b axis, in (I_o) there are twofold screw axes along all three directions of the unit cell.     

Concomitant but disappearing: two polymorphs of 1,4‐bis(tribromomethyl)benzene

The title compound, C₈H₄Br₆, (I), initially crystallized from deuterochloroform as the comcomitant polymorphs (Ia) (prisms, space group P2₁/n, Z = 2) and (Ib) (hexagonal plates, space group C2/c, Z = 4). The molecules in both forms display crystallographic inversion symmetry. All further attempts to crystallize the compound led exclusively to (Ib), so that (Ia) may be regarded as a `disappearing polymorph'. Surprisingly, however, the density of (Ia) is greater than that of (Ib). The only significant difference between the molecular structures is the orientation of the CBr<sub>3</sub> groups. The molecular packing of both structures is largely determined by Br...Br interactions, although (Ia) also displays a C—H...Br hydrogen bond and both polymorphs display one Br...π contact. For (Ia), six of the eight contacts combine to form a tube‐like substructure parallel to the a axis. For (Ib), the two shortest Br...Br contacts link `half' molecules consisting of C—CBr₃ groups to form double layers parallel to (001) in the regions z≃, .     

Three anilides of 2,2′‐thiodibenzoic acid

The structures of N,N′‐bis(2‐methylphenyl)‐2,2′‐thiodibenzamide, C₂₈H₂₄N₂O₂S, (Ia), N,N′‐bis(2‐ethylphenyl)‐2,2′‐thiodibenzamide, C₃₀H₂₈N₂O₂S, (Ib), and N,N′‐bis(2‐bromophenyl)‐2,2′‐thiodibenzamide, C₂₆H₁₈Br₂N₂O₂S, (Ic), are compared with each other. For the 19 atoms of the consistent thiodibenzamide core, the r.m.s. deviations of the molecules in pairs are 0.29, 0.90 and 0.80 Å for (Ia)/(Ib), (Ia)/(Ic) and (Ib)/(Ic), respectively. The conformations of the central parts of molecules (Ia) and (Ib) are similar due to an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interaction. The molecules of (Ia) are further linked into infinite chains along the c axis by intermolecular N—H...O interactions, whereas the molecules of (Ib) are linked into chains along b by an intermolecular N—H...π contact. The conformation of (Ic) is quite different from those of (Ia) and (Ib), since there is no intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond, but instead there is a possible intramolecular N—H...Br hydrogen bond. The molecules are linked into chains along c by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Polymorphism in 2‐(4‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethylanilino)‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐1,3‐thiazin‐3‐ium chloride

Details of the structures of two conformational polymorphs of the title compound, C₁₂H₁₇N₂OS⁺·Cl⁻, are reported. In form (I) (space group P), the two N—H groups of the cation are in a trans conformation, while in form (II) (space group P2₁/c), they are in a cis arrangement. This results in different packing and hydrogen‐bond arrangements in the two forms, both of which have extended chains lying along the a direction. In form (I), these chains are composed of centrosymmetric R₄²(18) (N—H...Cl and O—H...Cl) hydrogen‐bonded rings and R₂²(18) (N—H...O) hydrogen‐bonded rings. In form (II), the chains are formed by centrosymmetric R₄²(18) (N—H...Cl and O—H...Cl) hydrogen‐bonded rings and by R₄²(12) (N—H...Cl) hydrogen‐bonded rings.     

Two polymorphs of N‐(2,6‐difluorophenyl)formamide

The structures of two distinct polymorphic forms of N‐(2,6‐difluorophenyl)formamide, C₇H₅F₂NO, have been studied using single crystals obtained under different crystallizing conditions. The two forms crystallize in different space groups, viz. form (Ia) in the orthorhombic Pbca and form (Ib) in the monoclinic P2₁ space group. Each polymorph crystallizes with one complete molecule in the asymmetric unit and they have a similar molecular geometry, showing a trans conformation with the formamide group being out of the plane of the aromatic ring. The packing arrangements of the two polymorphs are quite different, with form (Ia) having molecules that are stacked in an alternating arrangement, linked into chains of N—H...O hydrogen bonds along the crystallographic a direction, while form (Ib) has its N—H...O hydrogen‐bonded molecules stacked in a linear fashion. A theoretical study of the two structures allows information to be gained regarding other contributing interactions, such as π–π and weak C—H...F, in their crystal structures.     

Enantiotropic phase transition and twinning in 2,2,3,3,4,4‐hexafluoropentane‐1,5‐diol

Four crystal structure determinations of 2,2,3,3,4,4‐hexafluoropentane‐1,5‐diol (HFPD), C₅H₆F₆O₂, were conducted on a single specimen by varying the temperature. Two polymorphs of HFPD were found to be enantiotropically related as phases (I) and (II), both in the space group P1. These structures contain closely related R₄⁴(20) sheets. A structure determination was completed on form (Ia) at 283 K. Form (Ia) was then supercooled below the phase transition temperature at 279 to 173 K to give form (Ib) for a second structure determination. Metastable form (Ib) was transformed by momentary warming and recooling to give form (II) for a third structure determination at 173 K. Form (II) transformed to form (Ic) upon warming to 283 K. Enantiotropic phase transitions between phases (I) and (II) were confirmed with X‐ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Form (Ia) was found as a twin by nonmerohedry by a reflection in (011). This twinning persists in all phases described. Additional twinning was found after the phase (I) to phase (II) transformation. These two additional twin components are related to the first pair by a 180° rotation about the (012) plane. This latter pair of twins persisted as the specimen was warmed back to form (Ic) at 283 K.     

Two polymorphs of a lead(II) complex with 8‐hydroxy‐2‐methylquinoline and thiocyanate

Two distinct polymorphs of bis(μ₂‐methylquinolin‐8‐olato)‐κ³N,O:O;κ³O:N,O‐bis[(isothiocyanato‐κN)lead(II)], [Pb₂(C₁₀H₈NO)₂(NCS)₂], (I), forming dinuclear complexes from a methanolic solution containing lead(II) nitrate, 2‐methylquinolin‐8‐ol (M‐Hq) and KSCN, crystallized concomitantly as colourless prisms [form (Ia)] and long thin colourless needles [form (Ib)]. In both cases, the complexes lie across a centre of inversion. The polymorphs differ substantially in their conformation and in their interactions, viz. Pb...S and π–π for form (Ia) and Pb...S, Pb...π and C—H...π for form (Ib).     

Two polymorphs of bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)copper(I) iodide

The title complex, [Cu(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]I, (I), has been crystallized in two polymorphic forms, both containing four‐coordinate copper. Both forms are orthorhombic, with form (Ia) crystallizing in the primitive space group Pban and form (Ib) in the c‐centred space group Ccca. In (Ia), the complex cation and the I⁻ anion both have 222 crystallographic symmetry, and in (Ib), the complex cation has approximate 222 symmetry, with the I⁻ counter‐ion distributed over three special positions.     

Two polymorphic forms of N‐(4‐chloro­phenyl)‐5‐[(4‐chlorophenyl)aminomethyl]‐6‐methyl‐2‐phenyl­pyrimidin‐4‐amine

Two polymorphic forms of the title compound, C₂₄H₂₀Cl₂N₄, were obtained and characterized using X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Colourless crystals of polymorph (Ia) were obtained from the oily mother residue. Recrystallization of polymorph (Ia) from an acetone–methanol mixture resulted in pale‐yellow crystals of polymorph (Ib). The major feature distinguishing the two polymorphic forms is their inter­action modes, and hence their packing arrangements. In the crystal structure of polymorph (Ia), there are N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and also aromatic π–π stacking inter­actions between mol­ecules. The mol­ecules of polymorph (Ib) are linked by N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds only.     

A concise synthesis of a highly substituted 6‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)‐5‐nitrosopyrimidin‐2‐amine: synthetic sequence and the molecular and supramolecular structures of one product and two intermediates

A concise and efficient synthesis of 6‐benzimidazolyl‐5‐nitrosopyrimidines has been developed using Schiff base‐type intermediates derived from N⁴‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐6‐methoxy‐5‐nitrosopyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine. 6‐Methoxy‐N⁴‐{2‐[(4‐methylbenzylidene)amino]phenyl}‐5‐nitrosopyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine, (I), and N⁴‐{2‐[(ethoxymethylidene)amino]phenyl}‐6‐methoxy‐5‐nitrosopyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine, (III), both crystallize from dimethyl sulfoxide solution as the 1:1 solvates C₁₉H₁₈N₆O₂·C₂H₆OS, (Ia), and C₁₄H₁₆N₆O₃·C₂H₆OS, (IIIa), respectively. The interatomic distances in these intermediates indicate significant electronic polarization within the substituted pyrimidine system. In each of (Ia) and (IIIa), intermolecular N—H…O hydrogen bonds generate centrosymmetric four‐molecule aggregates. Oxidative ring closure of intermediate (I), effected using ammonium hexanitratocerate(IV), produced 4‐methoxy‐6‐[2‐(4‐methylphenyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl]‐5‐nitrosopyrimidin‐2‐amine, C₁₉H₁₆N₆O₂, (II) [Cobo et al. (2018). Private communication (CCDC 1830889). CCDC, Cambridge, England], where the extent of electronic polarization is much less than in (Ia) and (IIIa). A combination of N—H…N and C—H…O hydrogen bonds links the molecules of (II) into complex sheets.     

Channel‐forming solvate crystals and isostructural solvent‐free powder of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone

Crystals of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone, (I), grown from a variety of solvents, are invariably trigonal (space group R); these are 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone acetone 0.1667‐solvate, C₆H₇NO₂·0.1667C₃H₆O, (Ia), and 6‐methyl‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone propan‐2‐ol 0.1667‐solvate, C₆H₇NO₂·0.1667C₃H₈O, (Ib), and the forms from methanol, (Ic), water, (Id), benzonitrile, (Ie), and benzyl alcohol, (If). They incorporate channels running the length of the c axis that contain extensively disordered solvent molecules. A solvent‐free sublimed powder of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone microcrystals is essentially isostructural. Inversion‐related host molecules interact via pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form R₂²(8) dimers. Six of these dimers form large R₁₂⁶(42) puckered rings, in which the O atom of each N—H...O hydrogen bond is also the acceptor in an O—H...O hydrogen bond that involves the 5‐hydroxy group. The large R₁₂⁶(42) rings straddle the axes and form stacked columns viaπ–π interactions between inversion‐related molecules of (I) [mean interplanar spacing = 3.254 Å and ring centroid–centroid distance = 3.688 (2) Å]. The channels are lined by methyl groups, which all point inwards to the centre of the channels.     

Dimorphism of ethyl 1,4‐dihydro‐2,4,6‐triphenylpyridine‐3‐carboxylate

The title compound, C₂₆H₂₃NO₂, (Ia) and (Ib), shows polymorphism with crystals obtained from different solvents displaying different crystal structures. However, it is not the geometry of the single mol­ecules nor the hydrogen‐bond pattern that is different in (Ia) and (Ib), but the way in which the hydrogen‐bonded chains, running along the a‐axis direction, are arranged with respect to each other.     

Methyl 2‐benzamido‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐methylbenzoate and N‐{5‐benzoyl‐2‐[(Z)‐2‐methoxyethenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl}benzamide

Methyl 2‐benzamido‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐methylbenzoate, C₂₄H₂₃NO₅, (Ia), and N‐{5‐benzoyl‐2‐[(Z)‐2‐methoxyethenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl}benzamide, C₂₄H₂₁NO₃, (IIa), were formed via a Diels–Alder reaction of appropriately substituted 2H‐pyran‐2‐ones and methyl propiolate or (Z)‐1‐methoxybut‐1‐en‐3‐yne, respectively. Each of these cycloadditions might yield two different regioisomers, but just one was obtained in each case. In (Ia), an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond closes a six‐membered ring. A chain is formed due to aromatic π–π interactions, and a three‐dimensional framework structure is formed by a combination of C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds. Compound (IIa) was formed not only regioselectively but also chemoselectively, with just the triple bond reacting and the double bond remaining unchanged. Compound (IIa) crystallizes as N—H...O hydrogen‐bonded dimers stabilized by aromatic π–π interactions. Dimers of (IIa) are connected into a chain by weak C—H...π(arene) interactions.     

Conformations and resulting hydrogen‐bonded networks of hydrogen {phosphono[(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino]methyl}phosphonate and related 2‐chloro and 6‐chloro derivatives

In the crystal structures of the conformational isomers hydrogen {phosphono[(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino]methyl}phosphonate monohydrate (pro‐E), C₆H₁₀N₂O₆P₂·H₂O, (Ia), and hydrogen {phosphono[(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino]methyl}phosphonate (pro‐Z), C₆H₁₀N₂O₆P₂, (Ib), the related hydrogen {[(2‐chloropyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino](phosphono)methyl}phosphonate (pro‐E), C₆H₉ClN₂O₆P₂, (II), and the salt bis(6‐chloropyridin‐3‐aminium) [hydrogen bis({[2‐chloropyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl(0.5+)]amino}methylenediphosphonate)] (pro‐Z), 2C₅H₆ClN₂⁺·C₁₂H₁₆Cl₂N₄O₁₂P₄²⁻, (III), chain–chain interactions involving phosphono (–PO₃H₂) and phosphonate (–PO₃H⁻) groups are dominant in determining the crystal packing. The crystals of (Ia) and (III) comprise similar ribbons, which are held together by N—H...O interactions, by water‐ or cation‐mediated contacts, and by π–π interactions between the aromatic rings of adjacent zwitterions in (Ia), and those of the cations and anions in (III). The crystals of (Ib) and (II) have a layered architecture: the former exhibits highly corrugated monolayers perpendicular to the [100] direction, while in the latter, flat bilayers parallel to the (001) plane are formed. In both (Ib) and (II), the interlayer contacts are realised through N—H...O hydrogen bonds and weak C—H...O interactions involving aromatic C atoms.     

(E)‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)(4‐nitrophenyl)diazene, (E)‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)(4‐nitrophenyl)diazene and (E)‐[4‐(6‐bromohexyloxy)phenyl](4‐cyanophenyl)diazene

Syntheses and X‐ray structural investigations have been carried out for (E)‐(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)(4‐nitro­phenyl)­diazene, C₁₂H₉N₃O₃, (Ia), (E)‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)(4‐nitro­phenyl)­diazene, C₁₃H₁₁N₃O₃, (IIIa), and (E)‐[4‐(6‐bromo­hexyl­oxy)­phenyl](4‐cyano­phenyl)­diazene, C₁₉H₂₀BrN₃O, (IIIc). In all of these compounds, the mol­ecules are almost planar and the azo­benzene core has a trans geometry. Compound (Ia) contains four and compound (IIIc) contains two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, both in space group P (No. 2). In compound (Ia), the independent mol­ecules are almost identical, whereas in crystal (IIIc), the two independent mol­ecules differ significantly due to different conformations of the alkyl tails. In the crystals of (Ia) and (IIIa), the mol­ecules are arranged in almost planar sheets. In the crystal of (IIIc), the mol­ecules are packed with a marked separation of the azo­benzene cores and alkyl tails, which is common for the solid crystalline precursors of mesogens.     

Organosoluble polyimides and copolyimides based on 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐1‐phenylethane and aromatic dianhydrides

1,1‐Bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐1‐phenylethane (BAPPE) was prepared through nucleophilic substitution reaction of 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylethane and p‐chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃ in N,N‐dimethylformamide, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Novel organosoluble polyimides and copolyimides were synthesized from BAPPE and six kinds of commercial dianhydrides, including pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA, I_a ), 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA, I_b ), 3,3′,4,4′‐ biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA, I_c ), 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA, I_d ), 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA, I_e ) and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride (6FDA, I_f ). Differing with the conventional polyimide process by thermal cyclodehydration of poly(amic acid), when polyimides were prepared by chemical cyclodehydration with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as used solvent, resulted polymers showed good solubility. Additional, I_a,b were mixed respectively with the rest of dianhydrides (I_c–f) and BAPPE at certain molar ratios to prepare copolyimides with arbitrary solubilities. These polyimides and copolyimides were characterized by good mechanical properties together with good thermal stability. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2082–2090, 2000