A one‐dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer incorporating [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate and N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide ligands

In the title compound, catena‐poly[[[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide]chloridozinc(II)]‐μ‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylato‐[[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide]chloridozinc(II)]‐μ‐[N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide]], [Zn₂(C₁₄H₈O₄)Cl₂(C₂₆H₂₂N₄O₂)₃]_n, the Zn^II centre is four‐coordinate and approximately tetrahedral, bonding to one carboxylate O atom from a bidentate bridging dianionic [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate ligand, to two pyridine N atoms from two N,N′‐bis(pyridin‐3‐ylmethyl)‐[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxamide ligands and to one chloride ligand. The pyridyl ligands exhibit bidentate bridging and monodentate terminal coordination modes. The bidentate bridging pyridyl ligand and the bridging [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate ligand both lie on special positions, with inversion centres at the mid‐points of their central C—C bonds. These bridging groups link the Zn^II centres into a one‐dimensional tape structure that propagates along the crystallographic b direction. The tapes are interlinked into a two‐dimensional layer in the ab plane through N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the monodentate ligands. In addition, the thermal stability and solid‐state photoluminescence properties of the title compound are reported.     

Hydrogen‐bonded network in biphenyl‐4,4′‐diphosphonic acid

The crystal structure of the title compound, C₁₂H₁₂O₆P₂, displays two different regions alternating along the a axis: a hydrogen‐bonded region encompassing the end‐positioned phosphonic acid groups and a hydrophobic region formed by the aromatic spacers. The asymmetric unit contains only half of the biphenyl‐4,4′‐diphosphonic acid (4,4′‐bpdp) molecule, which is symmetric with an inversion centre imposed at the mid‐point between the two aromatic rings. The periodic organization of the molecules is controlled by two strong O—H...O interactions between the phosphonic acid sites. Weak C—H...π interactions are established in the aromatic regions.     

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer with biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetra­carboxylic acid and 4,4′‐bipyridine

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer, poly[[[bis­(4,4′‐bipyridine)cadmium(II)]‐μ₃‐4,4′‐dicarboxy­biphenyl‐3,3′‐di­carboxyl­ato] 0.35‐hydrate], {[Cd(C₁₆H₈O₈)(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·0.35H₂O}_n, was obtained by reaction of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·3H₂O, 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bpy) and biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetra­car­boxylic acid (H₄L) under hydro­thermal conditions. Each Cd^II atom lies at the centre of a distorted octa­hedron, coordinated by four O atoms from three H₂L²⁻ ligands and N atoms from two monodentate 4,4′‐bpy ligands. Each H₂L²⁻ ligand coordinates to three Cd^II atoms through two carboxyl­ate groups, one acting as a bridging bidentate ligand and the other in a chelating bidentate fashion. Two Cd atoms, two H₂L²⁻ anions and four 4,4′‐bpy ligands form a ring dimer node, which links into an extended broad zonal one‐dimensional chain along the c axis.     

Substituted 2,2′‐Bis(2‐oxidobenzylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl Complexes of Zinc

The condensation reaction of 2,2′‐diamino‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐6,6'‐dibromo‐1,1′‐biphenyl with 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde as well as 5‐methoxy‐, 4‐methoxy‐, and 3‐methoxy‐2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde yields 2,2′‐bis(salicylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐6,6′‐dibromo‐1,1′‐biphenyl ( 1a ) as well as the 5‐, 4‐, and 3‐methoxy‐substituted derivatives 1b , 1c , and 1d , respectively. Deprotonation of substituted 2,2′‐bis(salicylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyls with diethylzinc yields the corresponding substituted zinc 2,2′‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyls ( 2 ) or zinc 2,2′‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylideneamino)‐4,4′‐dimethyl‐6,6′‐dibromo‐1,1′‐biphenyls ( 3 ). Recrystallization from a mixture of CH₂Cl₂ and methanol can lead to the formation of methanol adducts. The methanol ligands can either bind as Lewis base to the central zinc atom or as Lewis acid via a weak O–H ··· O hydrogen bridge to a phenoxide moiety. Methanol‐free complexes precipitate as dimers with central Zn₂O₂ rings.     

Impact of the Nature of the Organic Spacer on the Crystallization Kinetics of UiO‐66(Zr)‐Type MOFs

The influence of the constitutive dicarboxylate linkers (size, functional group) over the crystallization kinetics of a series of porous Zr metal–organic frameworks with the UiO‐66 topology has been investigated by in situ time‐resolved energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction (EDXRD). Both large aromatic spacers (2,6‐naphthalene‐, 4,4′‐biphenyl‐ and 3,3′‐dichloro‐4,4′‐azobenzene‐dicarboxylates) and a series of X‐functionalized terephthalates (X=NH₂, NO₂, Br, CH₃) were investigated in dimethylformamide (DMF) at different temperatures and compared with the parent UiO‐66. Using different crystallization models, rate constants and further kinetic parameters (such as activation energy) have been extracted. Finally, the impact of the replacement of the toxic DMF by water on the crystallization kinetics was studied through the synthesis of the functionalized UiO‐66‐NO₂ solid.     

Optimization of the HPLC enantioseparation of 3,3′‐dibromo‐5,5′‐disubstituted‐4,4′‐bipyridines using immobilized polysaccharide‐based chiral stationary phases

The HPLC enantioseparation of nine atropisomeric 3,3′,5,5′‐tetrasubstituted‐4,4′‐bipyridines was performed in normal and polar organic (PO) phase modes using two immobilized polysaccharide‐based chiral columns, namely, Chiralpak IA and Chiralpak IC. The separation of all racemic analytes, the effect of the chiral selector, and mobile phase (MP) composition on enantioseparation and the enantiomer elution order (EEO) were studied. The beneficial effect of nonstandard solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), dichloromethane (DCM), and methyl t‐butyl ether on enantioseparation was investigated. All selected 4,4′‐bipyridines were successfully enantioseparated on Chiralpak IA under normal or PO MPs with separation factors from 1.14 to 1.70 and resolutions from 1.3 to 6.5. Two bipyridines were enantioseparated at the multimilligram level on Chiralpak IA. Differently, Chiralpak IC was less versatile toward the considered class of compounds and only five bipyridines out of nine could be efficiently separated. In particular, on these columns, the ternary mixture n‐heptane/THF/DCM (90:5:5) as MP had a positive effect on enantioseparation. An interesting phenomenon of reversal of the EEO depending on the composition of the MP for the 3,3′‐dibromo‐5,5′‐bis‐(E)‐phenylethenyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine along with an exceptional enantioseparation for the 3,3′‐dibromo‐5,5′‐bis‐ferrocenylethynyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine (α = 8.33, R_s = 30.6) were observed on Chiralpak IC.     

Solvothermal Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Luminescent Properties of Two New Cadmium(II) Coordination Polymers Based on Rigid / Flexible Dicarboxylate and N,N′‐Bis(4‐pyridyl)‐1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxydiimide

In order to investigate the effect of the organic ligands on the structures of coordination polymers, two new cadmium(II) coordination polymers based on the different dicarboxylate ligands, namely [Cd₂(bpdc)₂(DPNDI)₂] · 3H₂O · NMF ( 1 ) and [Cd(obb)(DPNDI)] ( 2 ) [H₂bpdc = biphenyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylate, H₂obb = 4,4′‐oxybis(benzoic acid), DPNDI = N,N′‐bis(4‐pyridyl)‐1,4,5,8‐naphthalene tetracarboxydiimide, and NMF = N‐methylformamide), were synthesized under solvothermal condition and further characterized. Complex 1 shows a twofold interpenetrated pcu topology. Complex 2 possesses a two‐dimensional (2D) layer structure with –ABCD– stacking sequence. Furthermore, the luminescent properties of complexes 1 and 2 are investigated.     

The kinetics of polycondensation of α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol using benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a phase‐transfer catalyst

The phase‐transfer catalyzed polycondensation of α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol was carried out using benzylethylammonium chloride in a two‐phase system of an aqueous alkaline solution and benzene at 60 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of polycondensation was expressed as the combined terms of quaternary onium cation and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenolate anion rather than the feed concentration of catalyst and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol. The measured concentrations of hydroxide and chloride anion in the aqueous solution and α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene in the organic phase were used to obtain the reaction rate constant with the integral method, and to analyze the polycondensation mechanism with a cyclic phase‐transfer initiation step in the heterogeneous liquid–liquid system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3059–3066, 2000     

Synthesis of [3,3′‐Di‐sec‐butyl‐4′‐(2‐dimethylaminoethoxy)biphenyl‐4‐yl‐oxy]acetic Acid

A modified synthetic route of [3,3′‐di‐sec‐butyl‐4′‐(2‐dimethylaminoethoxy)biphenyl‐4‐yloxy]acetic acid ( 1 ) with high total yield of 44% from biphenyl‐4,4′‐diol ( 2 ) is described.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated aromatic polyimides derived from 1,1‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1‐(3,5‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane and various aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated aromatic diamine, 1,1‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1‐(3,5‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane (9FMA), was synthesized by the coupling reaction of 3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethyl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroacetophenone with 2,6‐dimethylaniline under the catalysis of 2,6‐dimethylaniline hydrochloride. A series of fluorinated aromatic polyimides were synthesized from 9FMA and various aromatic dianhydrides, including pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3′4,4′‐biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride, via a high‐temperature, one‐stage imidization process. The inherent viscosities of the polyimides ranged from 0.37 to 0.74 dL/g. All the polyimides were quickly soluble in many low‐boiling‐point organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and acetone as well as some polar organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N′‐dimethylacetamide, and N,N′‐dimethylformamide. Freestanding fluorinated polyimide films could be prepared and exhibited good thermal stability with glass‐transition temperatures of 298–334 °C and outstanding mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 69–102 MPa and elongations at break of 3.3–9.9%. Moreover, the polyimide films possessed low dielectric constants of 2.70–3.09 and low moisture absorption (<0.58%). The films also exhibited good optical transparency with a cutoff wavelength of 303–351 nm. One polyimide (9FMA/BTDA) also exhibited an intrinsic negative photosensitivity, and a fine pattern could be obtained with a resolution of 5 μm after exposure at the i‐line (365‐nm) wavelength. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2665–2674, 2006     

Synthesis of Substituted 1,5‐Dioxaspiro[2.4]heptanes from 2,3‐ Dichloroprop‐1‐ene

The 4,4′‐di(tert‐butyl)biphenyl(DTBB)‐catalyzed lithiation of 2,3‐dichloroprop‐1‐ene ( 10 ) in THF at 0°, in the presence of symmetrically substituted ketones, led to the corresponding methylene‐substituted diols 11 (Scheme 2), which, by treatment with NaH and I₂ in THF at room temperature, furnished a series of 1,5‐dioxaspiro[2.4]heptanes 14 (Scheme 4). Oxidation of compounds 14 with RuO₄ gave the corresponding lactones 16 . Compounds 14 and 16 are structural units present in many biologically active natural compounds and in versatile intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry.     

Syntheses of multicyclic poly(ether sulfone)s from 5,5′,6,6′‐tetrahydroxy‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl spirobisindane and 4,4′‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl) sulfones

5,5′,6,6′‐Tetrahydroxy‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl spirobisindane (TTSBI) was polycondensed with 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (DCDPS) or with 4,4′‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl sulfonyl) biphenyl (BCSBP) in DMSO. Concentration and feed ratio were optimized to avoid gelation and to obtain a maximum yield of multicyclic polyethers free of functional groups. Regardless of these reaction conditions, only low fractions of perfect multicycles were obtained from DCDPS apparently due to steric hindrance of ring closure. Under the same conditions high fractions of perfect multicycles were achieved with the longer and more flexible DCSBP. The reaction products were characterized by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy viscosity, and DSC measurements. Relatively low glass transition temperatures (T_gs ≈ 160–175 °C) were found. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3732–3739, 2008     

Poly[μ2‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐di‐μ2‐bromido‐cadmium(II)], with novel colour‐tunable fluorescence

The title inorganic–organic hybrid complex, [CdBr₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n, features two‐dimensional [CdBr₂(4,4′‐bipy)]_n (4,4′‐bipy is 4,4′‐bipyridine) neutral networks, based on the octahedral Cd atom coordinated by four μ₂‐Br and two μ₂‐4,4′‐bipy at trans positions, yielding a CdBr₄N₂ octahedron. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (Cmmm). All the crystallographically independent atoms are on special positions, namely Cd on mmm, Br on mm, N on mm2, and C on sites of symmetry m or mm2. Optical absorption spectroscopy reveals the presence of an optical gap of 3.76 eV, indicating that the complex is a wide‐gap semiconductor. Photoluminescence investigation reveals that the complex displays strong colour‐tunable emissions, which might originate from a ligand‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer (LLCT) transition. Thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis shows that the complex is thermally stable up to 493 K.     

Poly[[diaqua‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐dinitratodi‐μ‐l‐tyrosinato‐dicopper(II)]: a chiral two‐dimensional coordination polymer

The title compound, [Cu₂(C₉H₁₀NO₃)₂(NO₃)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, contains Cu^II atoms and l ‐tyrosinate (l ‐tyr) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) ligands in a 2:2:1 ratio. Each Cu atom is coordinated by one amino N atom and two carboxylate O atoms from two l ‐tyr ligands, one N atom from a 4,4′‐bipy ligand, a monodentate nitrate ion and a water molecule in an elongated octahedral geometry. Adjacent Cu atoms are bridged by the bidentate carboxylate groups into a chain. These chains are further linked by the bridging 4,4′‐bipy ligands, forming an undulated chiral two‐dimensional sheet. O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the sheets in the [100] direction. This study offers useful information for the engineering of chiral coordination polymers with amino acids and 4,4′‐bipy ligands by considering the ratios of the metal ion and organic components.     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed from 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands exhibiting photoluminescence

Ligands based on polycarboxylic acids are excellent building blocks for the construction of coordination polymers; they may bind to a variety of metal ions and form clusters, as well as extended chain or network structures. Among these building blocks, biphenyltetracarboxylic acids (H₄bpta) with C ₂ symmetry have recently attracted attention because of their variable bridging and multidentate chelating modes. The new luminescent three‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[(μ₅‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene]dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)]_n , was synthesized solvothermally and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure contains two crystallographically independent Zn^II cations. Both metal cations are located on twofold axes and display distorted tetrahedral coordination geometries. Neighbouring Zn^II centres are bridged by carboxylate groups in the syn –anti mode to form one‐dimensional chains. Adjacent chains are linked through 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands to form a three‐dimensional network. In the solid state, the compound exhibits blue photoluminescence and represents a promising candidate for a thermally stable and solvent‐resistant blue fluorescent material.     

A threefold interpenetrated two‐dimensional zinc(II) supramolecular architecture based on 3‐nitrobenzoic acid and 4,4′‐bipyridine

With regard to crystal engineering, building block or modular assembly methodologies have shown great success in the design and construction of metal–organic coordination polymers. The critical factor for the construction of coordination polymers is the rational choice of the organic building blocks and the metal centre. The reaction of Zn(OAc)₂·2H₂O (OAc is acetate) with 3‐nitrobenzoic acid (HNBA) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) under hydrothermal conditions produced a two‐dimensional zinc(II) supramolecular architecture, catena‐poly[[bis(3‐nitrobenzoato‐κ²O,O′)zinc(II)]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ²N:N′], [Zn(C₇H₄NO₄)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n or [Zn(NBA)₂(4,4′‐bipy)]_n, which was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The Zn^II ions are connected by the 4,4′‐bipy ligands to form a one‐dimensional zigzag chain and the chains are decorated with anionic NBA ligands which interact further through aromatic π–π stacking interactions, expanding the structure into a threefold interpenetrated two‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. The solid‐state fluorescence analysis indicates a slight blue shift compared with pure 4,4′‐bipyridine and HNBA.     

A twofold interwoven two‐dimensional→two‐dimensional (2‐D→2‐D) cluster–organic network based on the [Cu2I2] cluster and the 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dipyridine ligand: poly[[μ2‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dipyridine]‐μ2‐iodido‐copper(I)]

In the polymeric title compound, [CuI(C₁₀H₈N₄)]_n, the Cu^I atom is in a four‐coordinated tetrahedral geometry, formed by two I atoms and two pyridine N atoms from two different 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)dipyridine (4,4′‐azpy) ligands. Two μ₂‐I atoms link two Cu^I atoms to form a planar rhomboid [Cu₂I₂] cluster located on an inversion centre, where the distance between two Cu^I atoms is 2.7781 (15) Å and the Cu—I bond lengths are 2.6290 (13) and 2.7495 (15) Å. The bridging 4,4′‐azpy ligands connect the [Cu₂I₂] clusters into a two‐dimensional (2‐D) double‐layered grid‐like network [parallel to the (10) plane], with a (4,4)‐connected topology. Two 2‐D grid‐like networks interweave each other by long 4,4′‐azpy bridging ligands to form a dense 2‐D double‐layered network. To the best of our knowledge, this interwoven 2‐D→2‐D network is observed for the first time in [Cu₂I₂]–organic compounds.     

The layered compound poly[μ2‐4,4′‐bipyridyl‐di‐μ2‐chlorido‐mercury(II)]

The title compound, [HgCl₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n, features two‐dimensional [HgCl₂(4,4′‐bipy)]_n neutral networks (4,4′‐bipy is 4,4′‐bipyridine), based on an octahedral Hg atom coordinated by four μ₂‐Cl atoms and two μ₂‐4,4′‐bipy ligands in trans positions, yielding a HgCl₄N₂ octahedron. The structure has mmm symmetry about the Hg atoms, with most of the atoms on at least one mirror plane, but the unsubstituted C atoms of the 4,4′‐bipy rings are disordered across a mirror plane. Photoluminescent investigations reveal that the title compound displays a strong emission in the green region, which probably originates from a ligand‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer transition.     

A three‐dimensional homochiral metal–organic framework constructed from manganese(II) with S‐carboxymethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l‐cysteine and 4,4′‐bipyridine

In the chiral polymeric title compound, poly[aqua(4,4′‐bipyridine)[μ₃‐S‐carboxylatomethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l ‐cysteinato]manganese(II)], [Mn(C₁₂H₁₃NO₆S₂)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)]_n, the Mn^II ion is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by one water molecule, three carboxylate O atoms from three S‐carboxyatomethyl‐N‐(p‐tosyl)‐l ‐cysteinate (Ts‐cmc) ligands and two N atoms from two 4,4′‐bipyridine molecules. Each Ts‐cmc ligand behaves as a chiral μ₃‐linker connecting three Mn^II ions. The two‐dimensional frameworks thus formed are further connected by 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands into a three‐dimensional homochiral metal–organic framework. This is a rare case of a homochiral metal–organic framework with a flexible chiral ligand as linker, and this result demonstrates the important role of noncovalent interactions in stabilizing such assemblies.     

Organosoluble and light‐colored fluorinated polyimides from 4,4′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl and aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated diamine monomer based on 4,4′‐biphenol was synthesized via a straightforward, high‐yielding two‐step procedure. 4,4′‐Biphenol was reacted with 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride in the presence of potassium carbonate to yield the intermediate dinitro compound, which was subsequently reduced to afford the fluorinated diamine, 4,4′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl. A series of organosoluble fluorinated polyimides were prepared from the diamine with various aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional two‐step thermal imidization method. All polyimides were soluble in strong dipolar solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide. The polyimides showed excellent thermal and thermooxidative stability and good mechanical properties. No significant weight loss was observed below a temperature of 520 °C in nitrogen or in air, and the glass‐transition temperatures ranged from 247 to 313 °C. Low dielectric constants (2.57–3.65 at 10 kHz), low moisture absorption (0.1–0.7 wt %), and low color intensity were also observed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 524–534, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10113