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.