Preparation and properties of aromatic polyimides from 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl or 2,2′-bis)p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides

New aromatic polyimides containing a biphenyl-2,2′-diyl or 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl unit were prepared by a conventional two-step method starting from 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy) biphenyl or 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. The polyimides having inherent viscosities of 0.69–0.99 and 0.51–0.59 dL/g, respectively, were obtained. Some of these polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridine. Transparent, flexible, and pale yellow to brown films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP polyamic acid solutions. These aromatic polyimides containing biphenyl and binaphthyl units had glass transition temperatures in the range of 200–235 and 286–358°C, respectively. They began to lose weight around 380°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 470°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.