Preparation and properties of fluorine-containing aromatic polyamides from tetrafluorophthaloyl chlorides and aromatic diamines

New fluorine-containing aromatic polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.4–1.8 dL/g were prepared by the low temperature solution polycondensation of tetrafluoroisophthaloyl and tetrafluoroterephthaloyl chlorides with N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted aromatic diamines. The aromatic polyperfluoroisophthalamides were amorphous polymers with glass transition temperatures around 280°C, whereas the polyperfluoroterephthalamides were crystalline. Most of these aromatic polyamides were soluble in organic solvents, and began to decompose around 330°C in air or nitrogen atmosphere.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic polyamides from 1,1-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,2-diphenylethylene and aromatic diacid chlorides

Novel, soluble aromatic polyamides and copolyamides containing tetraphenylethylene units were prepared by the low temperature solution polycondensation of 1,1-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,2-diphenylethylene and aromatic diamines with various aromatic diacid chlorides. Highmolecular-weight polyamides having inherent viscosities of 0.6–1.5 dL/g and number-average molecular weight above 21000 were obtained quantitatively. These polymers were readily soluble in various solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and dimethyl sulfoxide and gave pale yellow, transparent, flexible films by casting from DMAc solution. The polymers had glass transition temperatures between 290 and 340°C, and started to lose weight around 400°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 470°C in air.     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble aromatic polyamides from diaminotetraphenylimidazolin-2-one and various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

Novel aromatic polyamides, having inherent viscosities of 0.76-2.31 dL/g, were synthesized by the low temperature solution polycondensation of a new highly phenylated diamine monomer having an imidazolinone group, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazoline-2-one (TPIDA), with various aromatic diacid chlorides. All the polymers were amorphous, and most of the polyamides were readily soluble in organic solvents such as N-methyl–2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and m-cresol. Flexible and tough films could be prepared from the DMAc solutions of these soluble aromatic polyamides. The glass transition temperatures and 10% weight loss temperatures under nitrogen of the polyamides were in the range of 275–315°C and 430–505°C, respectively. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of N-phenylated aromatic polyamides from N-silylated dianilino compounds and aromatic diacid chlorides

N-Phenylated aromatic polyamides of high molecular weights were synthesized by the hightemperature solution polycondensation of N,N′ -di(trimethylsilyl)-substituted dianilino compounds derived from p-dianilinobenzene, bis(4-anllinophenyl) ether, and α,α′-dianilino-p-xylene, with isophthaloyl and terephthaloyl chloride. Almost all of the N-phenylated polyamides were amorphous, and soluble in a variety of organic solvents including dimethylformamide, m-cresol, and chloroform. Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the dimethylformamide solutions. Four wholly aromatic polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 195–255°C, and began to lose weight around 400°C in air.     

Synthesis and properties of new soluble N-phenyl–substituted aromatic-aliphatic and all aromatic polyamides derived from 4,4′-dianilinobiphenyl

New N-phenylated aromatic-aliphatic and all aromatic polyamides were prepared by the high-temperature solution polycondensation of 4,4′-dianilinobiphenyl with both aliphatic (methylene chain lengths of 6–11) and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides. All of the aromatic-aliphatic polyamides and the wholly aromatic polyamides exhibited an amorphous nature and good solubility in amide-type and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, except for those aromatic polyamides containing p-oriented phenylene or biphenylylene linkages in the backbone; the latter were crystalline and insoluble in organic solvents except m-cresol. The N-phenylated aromatic-aliphatic polyamides and aromatic polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 79–116°C and 207–255°C, respectively, and all the polymers were thermally stable with decomposition temperatures above 400°C in air. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2193–2200, 1998     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polymides from 2,2′-bibenzoic acid and aromatic diamines

Aromatic polyamides having inherent viscosities up to 1.8 dL/g were synthesized either by the direct polycondensation of 2,2′-bibenzoic acid with various aromatic diamines or by the low temperature solution polycondensation of 2,2′-bibenzoyl chloride with aromatic diamines. All the aromatic polyamides were amorphous and soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, m-cresol, and pyridine. Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc solutions. These aromatic polymides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 226-306deg;C and began to lose weight around 350°C in air.     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides from 1,4-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)naphthyl and aromatic diamines

A new aromatic dicarboxylic acid, 1,4-bis (p-carboxyphenoxy)naphthyl ( 3 ), was synthesized by the reaction of p-fluorobenzonitrile with 1,4-naphthalenediol, followed by hydrolysis. Aromatic polyamides having inherent viscosities of 1.27–2.22 dL/g were prepared by the triphenyl phosphite activated polycondensation of diacid 3 with various aromatic diamines. Most of the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethyl-acetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and m-cresol. Transparent, tough, and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP solutions. The cast films had tensile strengths ranging from 64–104 MPa, elongations-at-break from 6 to 10%, and initial moduli from 1.52 to 2.14 GPa. These polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 195 to 240°C. Almost all polymers were thermally stable up to 400°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded above 480°C in air and nitrogen atmospheres. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2273–2280, 1997     

Synthesis and properties of Ortho-linked aromatic polyamides based on 4,4′-(2,3-naphthalenedioxy) dibenzoic acid

A novel aromatic dicarboxylic acid monomer, 4,4′-(2,3-naphthalenedioxy)-dibenzoic acid ( 3 ), was prepared by the fluorodisplacement reaction of p-fluorobenzonitrile with 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of potassium carbonate followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate dinitrile. A series of novel aromatic polyamides containing ortho-linked aromatic units in the main chain were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of diacid 3 and a variety of aromatic diamines using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents in the N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride. The resulting polyamides had inherent viscosities higher than 0.74 and up to 2.10 dL/g. All of these polyamides were soluble in polar solvents, such as NMP, DMF, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and dimethyl sulfoxide. Transparent, flexible, and tough films could be cast from their DMAc or NMP solutions. The solvent-cast films had high tensile strengths and moduli. Extensions to break were relatively low, except for the polymers derived from 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane and 3,4′-oxydianiline, which had elongations of 82 and 62%, respectively. Except for the polyamide based on p-phenylenediamine, all the other polyamides were amorphous in nature. All the polymers are thermally stable to temperatures in excess of 450°C in either air or nitrogen atmosphere. The polymers exhibited glass transition temperatures ranging from 183 to 260°C and decomposition temperatures (10% weight loss) ranging from 462–523°C in air and 468–530°C in nitrogen. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3385–3391, 1997     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides from 5-t-butylisophthalic acid and various aromatic diamines

Aromatic polyamides (aramids) having pendant t-butyl group were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of 5-t-butylisophthalic acid with various aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The aramids having inherent viscosities of 0.6–2.4 dL/g were obtained in quantitative yields. These polymers were readily soluble in various solvents such as NMP,N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridine, and gave transparent, tough and flexible films by casting from the NMP solutions. The aramids had glass transition temperatures between 250 and 330°C, and started to lose weight around 350°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 450°C in air.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamides derived from 1,6-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

A new bis(phenoxy)naphthalene-containing diamine, 1,6-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene, was synthesized in two steps from the condensation of 1,6-dihydroxynaphthalene with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate, giving 1,6-bis(4-nitrophenoxv)naphthalene, followed by hydrazine hydrate/Pd—C reduction. A series of polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of the diamine with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids in the N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved metal salts such as CaCl₂ or LiBr using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The polymers were obtained in quantitative yield with inherent viscosities of 0.78–3.72 dL/g. Most of the polymers were soluble in aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), NMP, and they could be solution-cast into transparent, flexible and tough films. The casting films had tensile strength of 102–175 MPa, elongation at break of 8–42%, and tensile modulus of 2.4–3.8 GPa. The polymers derived from rigid dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid and 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid exhibited some crystalline characteristics. The glass transition temperatures of the polyamides were in the range of 238–337°C, and their 10% weight loss temperatures were above 487°C in nitrogen and above 438°C in air. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamides containing the cyclohexane structure

1,1-Bis[4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane (III) and 1,1-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane (V) were prepared in two main steps starting from the aromatic nucleophilic substitution of p-fluorobenzonitrile and p-chloronitrobenzene, respectively, with 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents, two series of polyamides with cyclohexylidene cardo groups were directly polycondensated from dicarboxylic acid III with various aromatic diamines or from diamine V with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids in an N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride. The polyamides exhibited inherent viscosities in the range of 0.45 to 1.78 dL/g. Almost all of the polymers were readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and could afford transparent, flexible, and tough films by solution casting. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of these aromatic polyamides were in the range of 180–243°C by DSC, and the 10% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen and air were all above 450°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3575–3583, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of novel aromatic polyamides with polyalicyclic cardo groups

5,5-Bis[4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan ( 3a ) and 5,5-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan ( 3b ) were prepared in two main steps starting from the aromatic nucleophilic halogen-displacement of p-fluorobenzonitrile and p-chloronitrobenzene, respectively, with 5,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents, two series of polyamides having polyalicyclic cardo units were directly polycondensated from dicarboxylic acid 3a with various aromatic diamines, or from diamine 3b with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids in the N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride. High molecular weight polyamides with inherent viscosities between 0.73 and 1.44 dL/g were obtained. All polymers were readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and afforded transparent, flexible, and tough films by solution casting. The glass-transition temperatures (T_g) of these aromatic polyamides were in the range of 219–253°C by DSC, and the 10% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen and air were above 467 and 465°C, respectively. A comparative study of some polyamides with an isomeric repeat unit is also presented. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4510–4520, 1999     

Preparation and characterization of aromatic polyamides based on ether-sulfone-dicarboxylic acids

Two ether-sulfone-dicarboxylic acids, 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoic acid (Me- III ) and 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(1,4-phenylene)dioxy]-dibenzoic acid ( III ), were prepared by the fluorodisplacement of 4,4′-sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethylphenol) and 4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol with p-fluorobenzonitrile, and subsequent alkaline hydrolysis of intermediate dinitriles. Using triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and pyridine as condensing agents, aromatic polyamides containing ether and sulfone links were prepared by the direct polycondensation of the dicarboxylic acids with various aromatic diamines in the N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polymers were above 0.4 dL/g and up to 1.01 dL/g. Most of the polyamides were readily soluble in polar solvents such as NMP, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and afforded tough and transparent films by solution-casting. Most of the polymers showed distinct glass transition on their differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, and their glass transition temperatures (T_g) were recorded between 212–272°C. The methyl-substituted polyamides showed slightly higher T_gs than the corresponding unsubstituted ones. The results of the thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) revealed that all the polyamides showed no significant weight loss before 400°C, and the methyl-substituted polymers showed lower initial decomposition temperatures than the unsubstituted ones. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2421–2429, 1997     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides from 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy) biphenyl or 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

New aromatic diamines having kink and crank structures, 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl and 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl, were synthesized by the reaction of p-fluoronitrobenzene with biphenyl-2,2′-diol and 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, respectively, followed by catalytic reduction. Biphenyl-2,2′-diyl- and 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl-containing aromatic polyamides having inherent viscosities of 0.44–1.18 and 0.26–0.88 dL/g, respectively, were obtained either by the direct polycondensation or low-temperature solution polycondensation of the diamines with aromatic dicarboxylic acids (or diacid chlorides). These polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide, m-cresol, and pyridine. Transparent, pale yellow, and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP solutions. These aromatic polyamides containing biphenyl and binaphthyl units had glass transition temperatures in the range of 215–255 and 266–303°C, respectively. They began to lose weight at ca. 380°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 470°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamides based on 4,4′-(2,7-naphthalenedioxy)dibenzoic acid

4,4′-(2,7-Naphthalenedioxy)dibenzoic acid, a new aromatic dicarboxylic acid monomer, was prepared starting from 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene and p-fluorobenzonitrile in three steps. Using triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and pyridine as condensing agents, a series of novel aromatic polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of the diacid monomer and aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride. The resulting polyamides had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.48 to 0.67 dL/g. Most of these polyamides were readily soluble in polar solvents, such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent, flexible, and tough films were cast from their DMAc solutions. They had tensile strengths of 65–70 MPa, elongations to break of 5–7%, and initial moduli of 1.4–1.6 GPa. Most of these polymers proved to be amorphous, with glass transition temperatures in the range between 143–227°C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) showed that all the polyamides were stable up to 450°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1469–1478, 1997     

Synthesis and characterization of novel aromatic polyamides containing 3-trifluoromethyl-substituted triphenylamine

A new 3-trifluoromethyl-substituted triphenylamine-containing aromatic diacid monomer, N,N-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-3-trifluoromethylaniline, was prepared by the substitution reaction of 3-trifluoromethylaniline with 4-fluorobenzonitrile, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the dinitrile intermediate. Novel aromatic polyamides with 3-trifluoromethyl-substituted triphenylamine moieties were prepared from the diacid and various aromatic diamines via the direct phosphorylation polycondensation. All the polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in many polar organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and could be solution-cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with good mechanical properties. They exhibited good thermal stability with relatively high glass-transition temperatures (258–327°C), 10% weight-loss temperatures above 500°C, and char yields higher than 60% at 800°C in nitrogen. These polymers had low dielectric constants of 3.22–3.70 (100 Hz), low moisture absorption in the range of 1.75–2.58%, and high transparency with an ultraviolet–visible absorption cut-off wavelength in the 375–395 nm range. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide films cast onto an indium tin oxide coated glass substrate exhibited a reversible oxidation redox couple with oxidation half-wave potentials (E_1/2) of 0.95–1.00 V vs. Ag/AgCl in an acetonitrile solution.     

Syntheses and properties of aromatic polyamides and polyimides based on N-phenyl-3,3-bis[4-(p-aminophenoxy) phenyl] phthalimidine

N-Phenyl-3,3-Bis[4-(p-aminophenoxy)phenyl] phthalimidine ( II ) was used as a monomer with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids and tetracarboxylic dianhydrides to synthesize polyamides and polyimides, respectively. The diamine II was derived by a nucleophilic substitution of N-phenyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimidine with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃ and then hydro-reduced. Polyamides IV _a-g having inherent viscosities of 0.55–1.64 dL/g were prepared by the direct polycondensation of the diamine II with various aromatic diacids using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. All the aromatic polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in various polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc solutions. These aromatic polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 293–319°C and 10% weight loss occurred up to 480°C. The polyimides were synthesized from diamine II and various aromatic dianhydrides via the two-stage procedure that included ring-opening polyaddition in DMAc to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal or chemical conversion to polyimides. Most of the aromatic polyimides obtained by chemical cyclization were found to be soluble in NMP, m-cresol, and o-chlorophenol. These polyimides showed almost no weight loss up to 500°C in air or nitrogen atmosphere. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides from 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy) biphenyl or 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic diamines

New aromatic dicarboxylic acids having kink and crank structures, 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy) biphenyl and 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl, were synthesized by the reaction of p-fluorobenzonitrile with biphenyl-2,2′-diol and 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, respectively, followed by hydrolysis. Biphenyl-2,2′-diyl-and 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl-containing aromatic polyamides having inherent viscosities of 0.58–1.46 dL/g and 0.63–1.30 dL/g, respectively, were obtained by the low-temperature solution polycondensation of the corresponding diacid chlorides with aromatic diamines. These polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide, m-cresol, and pyridine. Transparent, pale yellow, and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP solutions. These aromatic polyamides containing biphenyl and binaphthyl units had glass transition temperatures in the range of 210–272 and 260–315°C, respectively. They began to lose weight around 380°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 450°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel aromatic polyamides from 3,4-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,5-diphenylpyrrole and aromatic diacid chlorides

A new polymer-forming monomer, 3,4-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,5-diphenylpyrrole, was synthesized in three steps starting from 4′-nitrodeoxybenzoin. Tetraphenylpyrrole-containing aromatic polyamides and copolyamides were prepared from the diamine with various aromatic diacid chlorides and from a mixture of the diamine and 4,4′-oxydianiline with terephthaloyl chloride, respectively. The resultant polymers had inherent viscosities in the 0.3–1.8 dL/g range and were generally soluble in various organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide and m-cresol. They have glass transition temperatures in the range of 306–333°C and showed no weight loss below 380°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres.     

Novel aromatic polyamides and polyimides functionalized with 4‐tert‐butyltriphenylamine groups

A new triphenylamine‐containing diamine monomer, 4,4′‐diamino‐4″‐tert‐butyltriphenylamine, was successfully synthesized by the cesium fluoride‐mediated N,N‐diarylation of 4‐tert‐butylaniline with 4‐fluoronitrobenzene, followed by the reduction of the nitro group. The obtained diamine monomer was reacted with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids and tetracarboxylic dianhydrides to produce two series of novel triphenylamine‐based polyamides and polyimides with pendent tert‐butyl substituents. Most of the polymers were readily soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and could be solution cast into tough and flexible polymer films. These polymers showed high glass transition temperatures between 282 and 320 °C, and they were fairly stable up to a temperature above 450 °C (for polyamides) or 500 °C (for polyimides). These polymers exhibited UV absorption maxima around 308 to 361 nm. The photoluminescence spectra of the polyamides in DMAc exhibited a peak emission wavelength in the blue at 421–433 nm. Cyclic voltammograms of polyamides and polyimides showed an oxidation wave at 1.0–1.1 V versus Ag/AgCl in an acetonitrile solution. All the polyamides and polyimides exhibited excellent reversibility of electrochromic characteristics by continuous several cyclic scans between 0.0 and 1.1–1.3 V, with a color change from the original pale yellowish neutral form to the green or blue oxidized forms. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4579–4592, 2006