Synthesis and properties of new aromatic poly‐(ether benzoxazole)s from 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenoxy)biphenyl and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

A new bis(o‐aminophenol) with a crank and twisted noncoplanar structure and ether linkages, 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenoxy)biphenyl, was synthesized by the reaction of 2‐benzyloxy‐4‐fluoronitrobenzene with biphenyl‐2,2′‐diol, followed by reduction. Biphenyl‐2,2′‐diyl‐containing aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s with inherent viscosities of 0.52–1.01 dL/g were obtained by a conventional two‐step procedure involving the polycondensation of the bis(o‐aminophenol) monomer with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides, yielding precursor poly(ether o‐hydroxyamide)s, and subsequent thermal cyclodehydration. These new aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s were soluble in methanesulfonic acid, and some of them dissolved in m‐cresol. The aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s had glass‐transition temperatures of 190–251 °C and were stable up to 380 °C in nitrogen, with 10% weight losses being recorded above 520 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2656–2662, 2002     

New organosoluble and thermally stable poly(amide‐imide)s with benzoxazole or benzothiazole pendent groups: synthesis and characterization

Two new benzoxazole or benzothiazole‐containing diimide‐dicarboxylic acid monomers, such as 2‐[3,5‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)phenyl]benzoxazole ( 2 _o ) or 2‐[3,5‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)phenyl]benzothiazole ( 2 _s ) were synthesized from the condensation reaction between 3,5‐diaminobenzoic acid and 2‐aminophenol or 2‐aminothiophenol in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) with subsequent reaction of trimellitic anhydride in the presence of glacial acetic acid, respectively, and two new series of modified aromatic poly(amide‐imide)s were prepared. This preparation was done with pendent benzoxazole or benzothiazole units from the newly synthesized diimide‐dicarboxylic acid and various aromatic diamines by triphenyl phosphite‐activated polycondensation. In addition, the corresponding unsubstituted poly(amide‐imide)s were prepared under identical experimental conditions for comparative purposes. Characterization of polymers was accomplished by inherent viscosity measurements, FT‐IR, UV–visible, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities between 0.39 and 0.81 dl g^?1. The solubilities of modified poly(amide‐imide)s in common organic solvents as well as their thermal stability were enhanced compared to those of the corresponding unmodified poly(amide‐imide)s. The glass transition temperature, 10% weight loss temperature, and char yields at 800°C were, respectively, 7–26°C, 17–46°C and 2–5% higher than those of the unmodified polymers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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     

Cyclopolycondensation. XIII. New synthetic route to fully aromatic poly(heterocyclic imides) with alternating repeating units

Fully aromatic poly(heterocyclic imides) of high molecular weight were prepared by the cyclopolycondensation reactions of aromatic diamines with new monomer adducts prepared by condensing orthodisubstituted aromatic diamines with chloroformyl phthalic anhydrides. The low-temperature solution polymerization techniques yielded tractable poly(amic acid), which was converted to poly(heterocyclic imides) by heat treatment to effect cyclodehydration at 250–400°C under reduced pressure. In this way, the polyaromatic imideheterocycles such as poly(benzoxazinone imides), poly(benzoxazole imides), poly(benzimidazole imides) and poly(benzothiazole imides) were prepared, which have excellent processability and thermal stability both in nitrogen and in air. The poly(amic acids) are soluble in such organic polar solvents as N,N-dimethyl-acetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and dimethyl sulfoxide, and the films can be cast from the polymer solution of poly(amic acids) (η_inh = 0.8–1.8). The film is made tough by being heated in nitrogen or under reduced pressure to effect cyclodehydration at 300–400°C. The polymerization was carried out by first isolating the monomer adducts, followed by polymerization with aromatic diamines. On subsequently being heated, the open-chain precursor, poly(amic acid), undergoes cyclodehydration along the polymer chain, giving the thermally stable ordered copolymers of the corresponding heterocyclic imide structure.     

Novel positive‐working and aqueous‐base‐developable photosensitive poly(imide benzoxazole) precursor

A novel positive‐working and aqueous‐base‐developable photosensitive poly(imide benzoxazole) precursor based on a poly(amic acid hydroxyamide) bearing phenolic hydroxyl groups and carboxylic acid groups, a diazonaphthoquinone (DNQ) photosensitive compound, and a solvent was developed. Poly(amic acid hydroxyamide) was prepared through the polymerization of 2,2‐bis(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane, trimellitic anhydride chloride, and 4,4′‐oxydibenzoyl chloride. Subsequently, the thermal cyclization of the poly(amic acid hydroxyamide) precursor at 350 °C produced the corresponding poly(imide benzoxazole). The inherent viscosity of the precursor polymer was 0.17 dL/g. The cyclized poly(imide benzoxazole) showed a high glass‐transition temperature of 372 °C and 5% weight loss temperatures of 535 °C in nitrogen and 509 °C in air. The structures of the precursor polymer and the fully cyclized polymer were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR. The photosensitive polyimide precursor containing 25 wt % DNQ photoactive compound showed a sensitivity of 256 mJ/cm² and a contrast of 1.14 in a 3‐μm film with a 0.6 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide developer. A pattern with a resolution of 5 μm was obtained from this composition. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5990–5998, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated poly(benzoxazole ether ketone)s by direct copolymerization as novel polymers for proton-exchange membranes

A new series of sulfonated poly(benzoxazole ether ketone)s (SPAEKBO-X) were prepared by the aromatic nucleophilic polycondensation of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)-diphenol with 2,2′-bis[2-(4-fluorophenyl)benzoxazol-6-yl]hexafluoropropane and sodium 5,5′-carbonylbis-2-fluorobenzenesulfonate in various ratios. Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR were used to characterize the structures and sulfonic acid contents of the copolymers. The copolymers were soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide and could form tough and flexible membranes. The protonated membranes were thermally stable up to 320 °C in air. The water uptake, hydrolytic and oxidative stability, and mechanical properties were evaluated. At 30–90 °C and 95% relative humidity, the proton conductivities of the membranes increased with the sulfonic acid content and temperature and almost reached that of Nafion 112. At 90–130 °C, without external humidification, the conductivities increased with the temperature and benzoxazole content and reached above 10⁻² S/cm. The SPAEKBO-X membranes, especially those with high benzoxazole compositions, possessed a large amount of strongly bound water (>50%). The experimental results indicate that SPAEKBO-X copolymers are promising for proton-exchange membranes in fuel cells, and their properties might be tailored by the adjustment of the copolymer composition for low temperatures and high humidity or for high temperatures and low humidity; they are especially promising for high-temperature applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2273–2286, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of thianthrene-containing poly(benzoxazole)s

New thioether- and thianthrene-containing poly(benzoxazole)s (PBOs) were synthesized from 4,4′-thiobis[3-chlorobenzoic acid] and thianthrene-2,7- and -2,8-dicarbonyl chlorides with commercially available bis-o-aminophenols. Polymers were prepared via solution polycondensation in poly(phosphoric acid) at 90–200°C. Transparent PBO films were cast directly from polymerization mixtures or m-cresol. The films were flexible and tough. Non-fluorinated PBOs were soluble only in strong acids and AlCl₃/NO₂R systems by forming complexes with the benzoxazole heterocycle Glass transition temperatures ranged from 298–450°C, and thermogravimetric analysis showed good thermal stabilities in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of multiple H‐bonding on the properties of polyimides containing the rigid rod groups

To investigate the influence of hydrogen bonding on the properties of polyimides (PIs) containing rigid rod‐like groups, five symmetrical diamines containing benzimidazole, benzoxazole, and hydroxy group were synthesized, and then a series of PIs were prepared. Results showed that hydroxyl‐containing poly(benzoxazole imide)s possess higher glass transition temperature (T_g) and dimensional stabilities than their corresponding poly(benzoxazole imide)s. Moreover, the corresponding poly(benzimidazole imide)s presented the best performances, such as the highest T_g, the highest char yield and the highest dimensional stabilities. The influence of hydrogen bonding of benzimidazole on the properties of PIs was stronger than that of hydroxyl groups. Hydroxyl‐containing poly(benzoxazole imide)s were formed in crosslinking structures after heat treatment at 400 °C. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 570–581     

Synthesis and photoluminescent and electrochromic properties of aromatic poly(amine amide)s bearing pendent N‐carbazolylphenyl moieties

A series of novel poly(amine amide)s ( IIa – IIl ) with pendent N‐carbazolylphenyl units having inherent viscosities of 0.25–1.06 dL/g were prepared via direct phosphorylation polycondensation from various dicarboxylic acids and a carbazole‐based aromatic diamine. Except for poly(amine amide) IIc , derived from trans‐1,4‐cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, all the other amorphous poly(amine amide)s were readily soluble in many polar solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), and could be cast into transparent and flexible films. The aromatic poly (amine amide)s had useful levels of thermal stability associated with relatively high glass‐transition temperatures (268–331 °C), 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 540 °C, and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 60%. These polymers exhibited maximum ultraviolet–visible absorption at 293–361 nm in NMP solutions. Their photoluminescence in NMP solutions exhibited fluorescence emission maxima around 362 and 448–499 nm for aromatic–aliphatic poly(amine amide)s IIa – IIc and aromatic poly (amine amide)s IId – IIl , respectively. The fluorescence quantum yield in NMP solutions ranged from 0.34% for IIj to 4.44% for IIa . The hole‐transporting and electrochromic properties were examined with electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the poly(amine amide) films cast onto an indium tin oxide coated glass substrate exhibited reversible oxidation at 0.81 V and irreversible oxidation redox couples at 1.20 V versus Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile solutions, and they revealed excellent stability of the electrochromic characteristics, with a color change from yellow to green at applied potentials ranging from 0.00 to 1.05 V. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4108–4121, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of new adamantane‐based poly(ether imide)s

A new adamantane‐based bis(ether anhydride), 2,2‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]adamantane dianhydride, was prepared in three steps starting from nitrodisplacement of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile with the potassium phenolate of 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane. A series of adamantane‐containing poly(ether imide)s were prepared from the adamantane‐based bis(ether anhydride) and aromatic diamines by a conventional two‐stage synthesis in which the poly(ether amic acid)s obtained in the first stage were heated stage‐by‐stage at 150–270°C to give the poly(ether imide)s. The intermediate poly(ether amic acid)s had inherent viscosities between 0.56 and 1.92 dL/g. Except for those from p‐phenylenediamine, m‐phenylenediamine, and benzidine, all the poly(ether amic acid) films could be thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough poly(ether imide) films. All the poly(ether imide)s showed limited solubility in organic solvents, although they were amorphous in nature as evidenced by X‐ray diffractograms. Glass transition temperatures of these poly(ether imide)s were recorded in the range of 242–317°C by differential scanning calorimetry and of 270–322°C by dynamic mechanical analysis. They exhibited high resistance to thermal degrdation, with 10% weight loss temperatures being recorded between 514–538°C in nitrogen and 511–527°C in air. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1619–1628, 1999     

Vapor phase deposition of polybenzoxazoles

Vapor phase deposition was carried out on multifunctional aliphatic and aromatic benzoxazoles to yield powdered samples of poly(dimethylenebenzoxazoles). Representative aliphatic and aromatic poly(dimethylenebenzoxazoles) were also synthesized through solution methods using 4-amino-3-hydroxyhydrocinnamic acid and 2-(4-(bromomethyl)phenyl)-6-(bromomethyl)benzoxazole, respectively, as monomers. Both aromatic and aliphatic polybenzoxazoles containing  CH₂CH₂ units in the polymer backbone displayed catastrophic weight loss over a very narrow temperature range. This is in contrast with other polybenzoxazoles which show a gradual weight loss over 500–1000°C. Vapor phase deposition carried out under vacuum on the polymers gave similar polymers in the collection zone suggesting the catastrophic weight loss is attributed to thermal depolymerization of the polymer through a diradical intermediate similar to the thermolysis and polymerization of [2.2]paracyclophane. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1317–1328, 1998     

Poly(enonsulfides) from the addition of aromatic dithiols to aromatic dipropynones

Novel poly(enonsulfides) were prepared with inherent viscosities as high as 1.35 dL/g by nucleophilic addition of various aromatic dithiols to 1,1′-(1,3- or 1,4-phenylene)bis(3-phenyl-2-propyn-1-one) in m-cresol at 25–40°C. A tough clear yellow film with a tensile strength of 11,300 psi and a tensile modulus of 466,000 psi at 25°C was cast from a chloroform solution of the polymer prepared from 1,3-dithiobenzene and 1,1′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(3-phenyl-2-propyn-1-one). The poly(enonsulfides) exhibited T_g's as high as 180°C and weight losses of approximately 10% at 331°C in air. The synthesis and characterization of several poly(enonsulfides) are discussed.     

Synthesis of semiaromatic polyimides from aromatic diamines containing adamantyl units and alicyclic dianhydrides

We prepared new semiaromatic polyimides from alicyclic dianhydrides and aromatic diamines containing adamantyl and biadamantyl units. Polycondensations were performed in 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone at room temperature for 7 h and then 80 °C for 23 h, giving poly(amic acid)s with inherent viscosities up to 0.58 dL/g. Poly(amic acid)s were converted to corresponding poly(imide)s by thermal treatment. Poly(imide)s showed relatively high thermal stability (5% weight loss around 450 °C) and low dielectric constants (2.69–2.79). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 144–150, 2004     

Synthesis of poly(benzoxazinone)s by direct polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids with bis(anthranilic acid)s

A convenient method for the synthesis of poly(benzoxazinone)s of high molecular weights has been developed. These polymers were prepared readily by direct polycondensation of aromatic dicarboxylic acids containing phenyl ether structures with bis(anthranilic acid)s using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid (PPMA) as a condensing agent and solvent. Polycondensations proceeded smoothly and were completed within several hours at 140°C to produce poly(benzoxazinone)s with inherent viscosities up to 2.6 dL/g. The synthesis of 2-substituted benzoxazinones by the reaction of aromatic carboxylic acids or dicarboxylic acid with anthranilic acid in PPMA was studied in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of the reaction for polymer formation. The thermogravimetry of the aromatic poly(benzoxazinone)s showed 10% weight loss in air and nitrogen around at 440 and 460°C, respectively.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic poly(ester amide)s with pendant phosphorus groups

Two series of phosphorus‐containing aromatic poly(ester amide)s with inherent viscosities of 0.46–3.20 dL/g were prepared by low‐temperature solution polycondensation from 1,4‐bis(3‐aminobenzoyloxy)‐2‐(6‐oxido‐6H‐dibenz〈c,e〉〈1,2〉oxaphosphorin‐6‐yl)naphthalene and 1,4‐bis(4‐aminobenzoyloxy)‐2‐(6‐oxido‐6H‐dibenz〈c,e〉〈1,2〉oxaphosphorin‐6‐yl)naphthalene with various aromatic diacid chlorides. All the poly(ester amide)s were amorphous and readily soluble in many organic solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP). Transparent, tough, and flexible films of these polymers were cast from DMAc and NMP solutions. Their casting films had tensile strengths of 71–214 MPa, elongations to break of 5–10%, and initial moduli of 2.3–6.0 GPa. These poly(ester amide)s had glass‐transition temperatures of 209–239 °C (m‐series) and 222–267 °C (p‐series). The degradation temperatures at 10% weight loss in nitrogen for these polymers ranged from 462 to 489 °C, and the char yields at 800 °C were 55–63%. Most of the poly(ester amide)s also showed a high char yield of 35–45%, even at 800 °C under a flow of air. The limited oxygen indices of these poly(ester amide)s were 35–46. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 459–470, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10129     

The preparation of perfectly alternating poly(amide-imide)s via amide unit containing new diamine

The synthesis of N,N′-bis(4′-amino-4-biphenylene) isophthalamide (BABPI) and its applicability as a new diamine for the preparation of a series of new, high T_g, perfectly alternating poly(amide-imide)s is described. BABPI was synthesized from the catalytic reduction of the corresponding dinitro compound which was prepared by the condensation of isophthaloyl chloride and 4-amino-4′-nitrobiphenyl. The modified selective reduction technique was used for the preparation of 4-amino-4′-nitrobiphenyl from 4,4′-dinitro-biphenyl. Poly(amide-imide)s were synthesized by polycondensation of diamine BABPI with various commercially available aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional two-step procedure. In the first step, poly(amic-acid)s were prepared in a polar aprotic solvent, such as N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) at room temperature. Depending on the dianhydride used, intrinsic viscosities of poly(amic-acid)s were found to range between 0.43–0.69 dL/g. Bulk thermal imidization technique was used to obtain fully imidized poly(amide-imide)s at the second step. The synthesized poly(amide-imide)s showed good thermal stability up to 320°C and the 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded in the range of 525–550°C as evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The glass transition temperatures were found to be between 225–235°C from differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurements. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1149–1155, 1997     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamide-benzoxazoles from trimethylsilyl-substituted 2,4-diaminophenol and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

Aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.6–2.2 dL/g were readily synthesized by the low-temperature solution polycondensation of N,N′,O-tris(trimethylsilyl)-substituted 2,4-diaminophenol with aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides in various organic solvents. The viscosity values were much higher than those of the polymers obtained by a conventional method using parent 2,4-diaminophenol. Subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(o-hydroxy amide)s at 280°C under vacuum afforded the corresponding aromatic polyamide-benzoxazoles. Most of the poly(o-hydroxy amide)s dissolved readily in amide-type solvents, whereas the polyamide-benzoxazoles were quite insoluble in organic solvents. The polyamide-benzoxazoles, which gave yellow, transparent, and tough films, had glass transition temperatures of 260–300°C and were stable up to 400°C in air.     

Synthesis of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s by direct polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids with hydrazine sulfate using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid as condensing agent and solvent

A convenient method for the synthesis of poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s of high molecular weights has been developed. These polymers were prepared readily by the direct polycondensation of dicarboxylic acids with hydrazine sulfate ( 1 ) using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid (PPMA) as both a condensing agent and solvent. Polycondensation of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with 1 proceeded even at room temperature and produced poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s with inherent viscosities up to 1.4 dL/g. The synthesis of aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s from aromatic dicarboxylic acids containing phenyl ether structures was carried out by a one-pot procedure because the preactivation of dicarboxylic acids was required. The synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles by the reaction of carboxylic acids with 1 in PPMA was studied to demonstrate the feasibility of the reaction for polymer formation. The thermogravimetry of the aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s showed 10% weight loss both in air and in nitrogen at 440–490°C.     

Synthesis and properties of new soluble triphenylamine‐based aromatic poly(amine amide)s derived from N,N′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine

A new triphenylamine‐containing aromatic dicarboxylic acid, N,N′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine, was synthesized by the condensation of N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine with 4‐fluorobenzonitrile, followed by the alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate dinitrile compound. A series of novel triphenylamine‐based aromatic poly(amine amide)s with inherent viscosities of 0.50–1.02 dL/g were prepared from the diacid and various aromatic diamines by direct phosphorylation polycondensation. All the poly(amine amide)s were amorphous in nature, as evidenced by X‐ray diffractograms. Most of the poly(amine amide)s were quite soluble in a variety of organic solvents and could be solution‐cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with good mechanical properties. They had useful levels of thermal stability associated with glass‐transition temperatures up to 280 °C, 10% weight‐loss temperatures in excess of 575 °C, and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 60%. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 94–105, 2003     

Synthesis and properties of poly(ether imide)s derived from 2,6-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)naphthalene dianhydride and aromatic diamines

A new naphthalene unit-containing bis(ether anhydride), 2,6-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)naphthalene dianhydride, was synthesized in three steps starting from the nucleophilic nitrodisplacement reaction of 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene and 4-nitrophthalonitrile in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution in the presence of potassium carbonate, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and subsequent dehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). High-molar-mass aromatic poly(ether imide)s were prepared using a conventional two-step polymerization process from the bis(ether anhydride) and various aromatic diamines. The intermediate poly(ether amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.65–2.03 dL/g. The films of poly(ether imide)s derived from two rigid diamines, i.e. p-phenylenediamine and benzidine, crystallized during the thermal imidization process. The other poly(ether imide)s belonged to amorphous materials and could be fabricated into transparent, flexible, and tough films. These aromatic poly(ether imide) films had yield strengths of 104–131 MPa, tensile strengths of 102–153 MPa, elongation to break of 8–87%, and initial moduli of 1.6–3.2 GPa. The glass transition temperatures (T_g's) of poly(ether imide)s were recorded in the range of 220–277°C depending on the nature of the diamine moiety. All polymers were stable up to 500°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded above 550°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1657–1665, 1998