Novel thermally stable poly(amine hydrazide)s and poly(amine‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s for luminescent and electrochromic materials

We describe the preparation, characterization, and luminescence of four novel electrochromic aromatic poly(amine hydrazide)s containing main‐chain triphenylamine units with or without a para‐substituted N,N‐diphenylamino group on the pendent phenyl ring. These polymers were prepared from either 4,4′‐dicarboxy‐4″‐N,N‐diphenylaminotriphenylamine or 4,4′‐dicarboxytriphenylamine and the respective aromatic dihydrazide monomers via a direct phosphorylation polycondensation reaction. All the poly(amine hydrazide)s were amorphous and readily soluble in many common organic solvents and could be solution‐cast into transparent and flexible films with good mechanical properties. These poly(amine hydrazide)s exhibited strong ultraviolet–visible absorption bands at 346–348 nm in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) solutions. Their photoluminescence spectra in NMP solutions or as cast films showed maximum bands around 508–544 and 448–487 nm in the green and blue region for the two series of polymers. The hole‐transporting and electrochromic properties were examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. All obtained poly(amine hydrazide)s and poly(amine‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at 0.8 and 1.24 V vs. Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile solution and revealed excellent stability of electrochromic characteristics, changing color from original pale yellow to green and then to blue at electrode potentials of 0.87 and 1.24 V, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3245–3256, 2005     

Interfacial profiles of miscible poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene)/polyisoprene bilayer films

Compositional profiles of bilayer films in the direction normal to the interfaces have been investigated by neutron reflectivity measurements and analyzed with mean field theory. The bilayer films were prepared with poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene) (PTMSS) and polyisoprene (PI), which constitute a miscible polymer pair and whose blends show phase separation at the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) by heating. Because we can accurately control the degree of polymerization of component polymers and can adjust the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, χ, with the temperature, T, according to the relationship χ = 0.027–9.5/T, the phase behavior and the interfacial structure of PTMSS and PI are predictable by mean field theory. When the bilayer films of PTMSS and PI were set at 90 °C, which is a temperature below the LCST, diffusion at the interface was observed, and the original interface disappeared in several hours; this supports the idea that the polymer pair is miscible. No clear interfaces were identified below the LCST, whereas broad interfaces, compared with that of the strong segregation pairs, were observed above the LCST. The compositions of each layer are consistent with that of the coexisting phase in the polymer blends, and the interfacial widths agree well with the theoretical prediction considering the effect of capillary waves. In addition, all annealed films have a thin surface layer of PTMSS corresponding to surface segregation induced by the lower surface energy of PTMSS (with respect to that of PI). Thus, the interfacial profiles of PTMSS/PI bilayer films have been totally prospected in the framework of mean field theory. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1486–1494, 2005     

Preparation and phase behavior of poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene)‐block‐polyisoprene

Three poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene)‐block‐polyisoprenes (TIs), the molecular weights of which were 82,000, 152,000 and 291,000 (TI‐82K, TI‐152K, and TI‐291K), were synthesized by sequential anionic polymerizations. The component polymers were a miscible pair that presented a lower critical solution temperature phase diagram if blended. The TI phase behavior was investigated with transmission electron microscopy. The order–disorder transition could be observed at a temperature between 200 °C (the ordered state) and 150 °C (the disordered state) for the block copolymer TI‐152K. The block copolymer TI‐82K presented the disordered state at 200 °C, whereas TI‐291K was in the ordered state at 150 °C. With the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter between poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene) and polyisoprene, which was evaluated by small‐angle neutron scattering for the block copolymers, the TI phase behavior could be reasonably explained by mean‐field theory. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1214–1219, 2005     

Novel family of triphenylamine‐containing,hole‐transporting,amorphous, aromatic polyamides with stable electrochromic properties

We report the preparation and characterization of a series of novel electrochromic, aromatic poly(amine amide)s with pendent triphenylamine units. The synthesis proceeded via direct phosphorylation polycondensation between a novel diamine, N,N‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)‐N′,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine, and various aromatic dicarboxylic acids. All the poly(amine amide)s were amorphous and readily soluble in many common organic solvents and could be solution‐cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with good mechanical properties. They exhibited good thermal stability and 10% weight‐loss temperatures above 540 °C. Their glass‐transition temperatures were 263–290 °C. These polymers in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone solutions exhibited strong ultraviolet–visible absorption peaks at 307–358 nm and photoluminescence peaks around 532–590 nm in the green region. The hole‐transporting and electrochromic properties were studied with electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of poly(amine amide) films prepared by the casting of polymer solutions onto an indium tin oxide coated glass substrate exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at 0.65 and 1.03 V versus Ag/AgCl in an acetonitrile solution. All the poly(amine amide)s showed excellent stability with respect to their electrochromic characteristics; the color of the films changed from pale yellow to green and then blue at 0.85 and 1.25 V, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2085–2098, 2005     

Novel blue‐greenish electroluminescent poly(fluorenevinylene‐alt‐dibenzothiophenevinylene)s and their model compounds

Poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐vinylene‐alt‐dibenzothiophene‐2,8‐vinylene) (PS) and poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐vinylene‐alt‐dibenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide‐2,8‐ vinylene) (PSO) as well as corresponding model compounds were synthesized by Heck coupling. Both the polymers and model compounds were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, chloroform, and toluene. The polymers showed a decomposition temperature at ～430 °C and a char yield of about 65% at 800 °C in N₂. The glass‐transition temperatures of the polymers were almost identical (75–77 °C) and higher than those of the model compounds (26–45 °C). All samples absorbed around 390 nm, and their optical band gaps were 2.69–2.85 eV. They behaved as blue‐greenish light emitting materials in both solutions and thin films, with photoluminescence emission maxima at 450–483 nm and photoluminescence quantum yields of 0.52–0.72 in solution. Organic light‐emitting diodes with an indium tin oxide/poly(ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid)/polymer/Mg:Ag/Ag configuration with polymers PS and PSO as emitting layers showed green electroluminescence with maxima at 530 and 540 nm, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6790–6800, 2006     

Synthesis,photophysics, structure‐tunable photoluminescence,and electrochemical properties of soluble poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)‐based polymers with adjacent 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles in the backbone

Three new poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)‐based polymers containing two 1,3,4‐oxadiazole moieties in the main chain per repeat unit were synthesized by Heck coupling. A single, double, or triple bond was introduced between the oxadiazoles to provide a means for modifying the polymer properties. The polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and showed T_g values lower than 50 °C. The color of the emissive light in both the solid state and the solution could be tuned by a change in the nature of the bond between the oxadiazole rings. The polymers emitted ultraviolet‐green light in solution with a photoluminescence (PL) emission maximum at 345–483 nm and blue‐green light at 458–542 nm in thin films. The PL quantum yields in solution were 0.36–0.43. The electrochemical properties are affected by the nature of the bond between the oxadiazoles as well. In polymers with a single bond between the oxadiazoles, a lower ionization potential was observed than in polymers with a double or triple bond. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3079–3090, 2005     

Blue‐emitting poly(1,3‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives: Effect of substitution patterns on optical properties

Blue‐emitting poly{[5‐(diphenylamino)‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene]‐alt‐(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)} ( 3 ), poly{[5‐bis‐(4‐butyl‐phenylamino)‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene]‐alt‐(1,3‐phenylene vinylene)} ( 4 ), and poly(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene) ( 5 ) were synthesized by the Wittig–Horner reaction. Although polymers 3–5 possess fluorescent quantum yields of only 13–34% in tetrahydrofuran solution, their films appear to be highly luminescent. Attachments of substituents tuned the emission color of thin films to the desirable blue region (λ_max = 462–477 nm). Double‐layer light‐emitting‐diode devices with 3 and 5 as an emissive layer produced blue emission (λ_em = 474 and 477 nm) with turn‐on voltages of 8 and 11 V, respectively. The external quantum efficiencies were up to 0.13%. © 2005Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2800–2809, 2005     

Synthesis and properties of new fluorene‐based polyquinoxalines with an ether linkage in the main chain for light‐emitting diodes

A new series of fluorene‐based polyquinoxalines with an ether linkage in the main chain were prepared by the polycondensation reaction between a tetraketone monomer and 3,3′,4,4′‐tetraaminodiphenyl ether. The polycondensation was usually carried out in m‐cresol. The resulting polymers ( P1 – P3 ) [ P1 = poly(quinoxaline‐co‐9,9‐dihexyl‐2,7‐dimethyl‐9H‐fluorene) P2 = poly(quioxaline‐co‐9,9‐dihexyl‐9‐pentyl‐2,7‐di‐p‐tolyl‐9H‐fluorene) P3 = poly(quioxaline‐co‐9,9‐bis‐(4‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐2,7‐dimethyl‐9H‐fluorene)] showed good solubility in common organic solvents and high thermal stability with only a 5% weight loss up to 440 °C. P1 and P2 had very high glass‐transition temperatures of 212 and 223 °C, respectively, whereas P3 did not show any phase‐transition temperature in repeated scans up to 300 °C. All the polymers in photoluminescence showed blue emissions in the range of 432–465 nm, both in chloroform solutions and in thin films. Light‐emitting diode devices of the configuration indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer:poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) blend (2:8)/LiF/Al were fabricated with P1 or P2 and emitted blue light with electroluminescence peak wavelengths of 434 and 448 nm, respectively. The maximum brightness and the external quantum efficiency of P1 were 0.56 μW/cm² at 29 V and 0.056%, whereas P2 showed 0.50 μW/cm² at 34 V and a relatively low value of 0.015%, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed that these polymers possessed low‐lying ionization potential energy levels ranging from ?5.49 to ?5.86 eV and low‐lying electron affinity energy levels ranging from ?2.65 to ?2.88 eV. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1189–1198, 2006     

Novel thermotropic esters‐based polymers with broad nematic processing windows

In this study, a new series of semiflexible liquid crystalline (LC) polyesters and poly(ester‐amide)s were synthesized and characterized. Polymers based on 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (4‐HBA), 6‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoic acid (HNA), suberic acid (SUA), and sebacic acid (SEA) were modified with hydroquinone (HQ) and different concentrations of 4‐acetamidophenol (AP) to obtain a polyester and two poly(ester‐amide)s, respectively. All polymers were successfully prepared using conventional melt‐condensation techniques. The polymers were characterized by inherent viscosity measurements, SEC, hot‐stage polarizing microscopy, DSC, and TGA. The mechanical behavior was investigated using DMTA and tensile testing. All linear polymers have T_gs in the range of 50–80 °C and melt between 120 and 150 °C. Our polymers display good thermooxidative stabilities (5% wt loss at ～ 400 °C) and exhibit homogeneous nematic melt behavior over a wide temperature range (ΔN ～ 250 °C). The liquid crystal phase was lost when high concentrations of nonlinear monomers such as 3‐HBA (>27 mol %) and resorcinol (RC) (>23 mol %) were incorporated. The LC polyester based on 4‐HBA/HNA/HQ/SUA/SEA could easily be processed into good quality films and fibers. The films display good mechanical properties (E′ ～ 4 GPa) and high toughness, that is, ～ 15% elongation at break, at room temperature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6565–6574, 2008     

Synthesis of poly(arylene thioether)s from protected dithiols and aromatic difluorides with an organic base

Aromatic poly(arylene thioether)s were synthesized from N‐propyl‐S‐carbamate‐protected aromatic dithiols and aromatic difluorides. The deprotection of the protected dithiols with an organic base such as 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]‐7‐undecene at room temperature and subsequent polymerization with the difluoride monomers at 120 °C in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone produced high molecular weight polymers with intrinsic viscosities as high as 0.45 dL/g. The use of organic bases instead of inorganic bases for the generation of thiophenoxide nucleophile was a convenient way of avoiding metallic impurities in the synthesis of the poly(arylene thioether)s through a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2021–2027, 2005     

Enhancement of color purity in blue light emitting poly(fluorene)s and poly(p‐phenylene)s with 2,6‐distyrylpyridine kinked segments along the backbone

2,6‐bis(4‐Distyrylpyridine) ( 1 ) was synthesized by the condensation of 2,6‐dimethylpyridine with 4‐bromobenzaldehyde. Two new series of soluble random or alternating polyfluorenes ( PF‐Py ) and poly‐p‐phenylenes ( PP‐Py ) with various compositions were prepared by Suzuki coupling utilizing 1 as a comonomer. These polymers showed optical band gaps of 3.00–3.07 eV and photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields in solution of 0.37–0.91 for PF‐Py and 0.29–0.38 for PP‐Py . Polymers PF‐Py emitted blue light with PL maximum at 410–424 nm in solution and 406–428 nm in thin films that was red shifted with increasing distyrylpyridine content. Polymers PP‐Py behaved as blue emitters both in solution and in solid state, with PL maximum at 416–436 nm. The optical properties of these polymers could be tuned by the reversible protonation–deprotonation process of the pyridine ring. The emitted color of the polymers in solution and thin film could be changed continuously between blue and green (PL maximum up to about 520 nm) by exposing the polymers to the acid or base environment. Thin films of PF‐Py displayed excellent color stability with a small red shift of 10 nm but without additional emission band in the long wave region of the spectrum, even after being annealed at high temperature for a long time. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4486–4495, 2005     

Polyisophthalamides with heteroaromatic pendent rings: Synthesis,physical properties,and water uptake

A set of novel aromatic polyamides containing pyridine pendent groups was prepared from aromatic diamines and new monomers that are 5‐substituted derivatives of isophthalic acid bearing nicotinamide, isonicotinamide, or picolinamide groups. The polymers were obtained in high yield and high molecular weight by the phosphorylation method of polycondensation. They were characterized by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods and several of their properties were investigated. All of the polymers were soluble in polar aprotic solvents and gave films of good mechanical properties. Glass transition temperatures were higher than that of the reference polymer, poly(m‐phenyleneisophthalamide) (IP‐MPD), while the thermal resistance, defined by the initial decomposition temperature observed by thermogravimetry, was in the range 370–420 °C, lower by 30–70 °C than that of IP‐MPD. The presence of a pendent pyridine group and an additional amide side group per repeat unit made the polymers essentially amorphous and greatly improved their abilities to absorb water in comparison with nonsubstituted polyamides. Water uptake values up to 15% were observed at 65% relative humidity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5300–5311, 2005     

N‐Bromosuccinimide as a thermal iniferter for radical polymerization

N‐Bromosuccinimide (NBS) was used as a thermal iniferter for the initiation of the bulk polymerizations of methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, and styrene. The polymerizations showed the characteristics of a living polymerization: both the yields and the molecular weights of the resultant polymers increased linearly as the reaction time increased. The molecular weight distributions of the polymers were 1.42–1.95 under the studied conditions. The resultant polymers could be used as macroiniferters to reinitiate the polymerization of the second monomer. The copolymers poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐polystyrene and polystyrene‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) were obtained and characterized. End‐group analysis of the resultant poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), and polystyrene confirmed that NBS behaved as a thermal iniferter. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2567–2573, 2005     

Novel electroluminescent cationic polyelectrolyte based on poly[(fluorene‐2,7‐diylvinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] and its precursor

A novel conjugated poly[(fluorene‐2,7‐vinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] derivative 2 with quaternizable tertiary amino groups was synthesized by Heck coupling of a substituted 2,7‐dibromofluorene and 1,4‐dialkoxy‐2,5‐divinylbenzene. The corresponding quaternary ammonium cationic polyelectrolyte 3 was obtained by the treatment of 2 with bromoethane. Both polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, like tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and dichloromethane. Polymer 3 showed a limited solubility in alcohols and was insoluble in water. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the resulting polymers were fully investigated. An intensive green photoluminescence (PL) with maxima at 550 and 545 nm was observed from thin films of 2 and 3 polymers, respectively, red‐shifted compared with the PL emission spectra measured in the solution. The electrochemical band gaps were 2.38–2.45 eV. Single‐layer and double‐layer (with poly[3,4‐(ethylenedioxy)thiophene]/poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)) light‐emitting devices (LEDs) with ITO and Al electrodes were prepared and studied. They emitted a green light and their electroluminescence (EL) spectra were similar to those of PL thin films. The external EL efficiency was determined to be 0.43 and 0.32% for ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ 2 /Al and ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ 3 /Al LEDs, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1016–1027, 2007     

Palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling polycondensation of aromatic diiodide,aromatic bis(boronic acid propanediol ester), and norbornadiene: A new route for poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)

A novel synthetic method for soluble precursor polymers of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives by the palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling polycondensation of aromatic diiodides, aromatic bis(boronic acid) derivatives, and norbornadiene is described. For example, the polymerization of 1,4‐diiodo‐2,5‐dioctyloxybenzene, benzene‐1,4‐bis(boronic acid propanediol ester), and norbornadiene at 100 °C for 3 days provided a polymer consisting of the three monomer units in a 97% yield (number‐average molecular weight = 3100, weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.37). A derivative of PPV was produced smoothly by the retro Diels–Alder reaction of the polymer both in a dodecyloxybenzene solution and in a film at 200 °C in vacuo. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3403–3410, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of novel aromatic poly(imide–benzoxazole) copolymers

New poly(imide–benzoxazole) copolymers were prepared directly from a dianhydride, a diacid chloride, and a bis(o‐diaminophenol) monomer in a two‐step method. In the first step, poly(amic acid–hydroxyamide) precursors were synthesized by low‐temperature solution polymerization in an organic solvent. Subsequently, the thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(amic acid–hydroxyamide) precursors at 350 °C produced the corresponding poly(imide–benzoxazole) copolymers. The inherent viscosities of the precursor polymers were around 0.19–0.33 dL/g. The cyclized poly(imide–benzoxazole) copolymers had glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 331–377 °C. The 5% weight loss temperatures ranged from 524 to 535 °C in nitrogen and from 500 to 514 °C in air. The poly(imide–benzoxazole) copolymers were amorphous, as evidenced by the wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction measurements. The structures of the precursor copolymers and the fully cyclized copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6020–6027, 2005     

Synthesis,optical properties,and electroluminescence of conjugated poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives containing 1,3,4‐oxadiazole and pyridine rings in the main chain

Three new poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives—PO, POD, and POP—with oxadiazole and pyridine rings along the main chain were synthesized via Heck coupling. The polymers were amorphous and dissolved readily in common organic solvents. They showed relatively low glass‐transition temperatures (up to 42 °C) and satisfactory thermal stability. Solutions of the polymers emitted blue‐greenish light with photoluminescence (PL) emission maxima around 460 nm and PL quantum yields of 0.28–0.49. Thin films of the polymers displayed PL emission maxima at 461–521 nm, and their tendency to form aggregates was significantly influenced by the chemical structure. Light‐emitting diodes with polymers PO and POP, with an indium tin oxide/poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/polymer/Ca configuration, emitted yellow and green light, respectively, and this could be attributed to excimer emission. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3212–3223, 2004     

Synthesis and properties of new organo‐soluble and strictly alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s from 3,3‐bis[4‐(trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide and bisphenols

A series of new strictly alternating aromatic poly(ester‐imide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.20–0.98 dL/g was synthesized by the diphenylchlorophosphate (DPCP) activated direct polycondensation of the preformed imide ring‐containing diacid, 3,3‐bis[4‐(trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide (I), with various bisphenols in a medium consisting of pyridine and lithium chloride. The diimide–diacid I was prepared from the condensation of 3,3‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]phthalide and trimellitic anhydride. Most of the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from their DMAc solutions. The cast films had tensile strengths ranging 66–105 MPa, elongations at break from 7–10%, and initial moduli from 1.9–2.4 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polymers were recorded between 208–275 °C. All polymers showed no significant weight loss below 400 °C in the air or in nitrogen, and the decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss all occurred above 460 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1090–1099, 2000     

Two‐sided comb poly(amic ester)–poly(propylene oxide) graft copolymers as porous polyimide precursors

New step‐growth graft block copolymers were synthesized. These two‐sided comb copolymers consisted of a poly(amic ester) (PAE) backbone and pendant poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) grafts. The copolymers were made via a macromonomer approach, in which the 4,6‐bischlorocarbonyl isophthalic acid bis[poly(propylene oxide)] ester macromonomer was synthesized through the reaction of hydroxyl‐terminated PPO oligomers with pyromellitic dianhydride and oxalyl chloride. This macromonomer was subsequently used in step‐growth polymerization with comonomers 4,6‐bischlorocarbonyl isophthalic acid diethyl ester, 2,5‐bischlorocarbonyl terephthalic acid diethyl ester, and 2,2‐bis[4‐ (4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane, and this yielded PPO‐co‐PAE graft copolymers. Accordingly, we report the synthesis and characterization of the PPO oligomer, the PPO macromonomer, and their corresponding PPO‐co‐PAE graft copolymers. Graft copolymers with PPO concentrations of 3–26 wt % were synthesized. These polymers were thermally cured to produce polyimide/PPO composites. The thermolysis of these polyimide/PPO composites yielded porous polyimide films with porosities ranging of 4–22.5%. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2266–2275, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of organosoluble ditrifluoromethylated aromatic polyimides

Two novel diamine monomers, 1,4‐bis (4‐aminophenoxy)‐2‐[(3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzene and 1,4‐bis [2′‐cyano‐3′(4″‐amino phenoxy)phenoxy]‐2‐[(3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethyl)phenyl] benzene, were synthesized from (3,5‐ditrifluoromethyl)phenylhydroquinone. A series of ditrifluoromethylated aromatic polyimides derived from the diamines were prepared through a typical two‐step polymerization method. These polyimides had a high thermal stability, and the temperatures at 10% weight loss were above 507 °C in nitrogen. Most of the polymers showed good solubility in anhydrated 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. All the polymers formed transparent, strong, and flexible films with tensile strengths of 63.6–95.8 MPa, elongations at break of 5–10%, and Young's moduli of 2.38–2.96 GPa. The dielectric constants estimated from the average refractive indices are 2.69–2.89. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3018–3029, 2005