Homo- and copoly(arylene ether ketones) with side hydroxyl groups

The polycondensation of 2-β-oxyethyl-3,3-bis(4-oxyphenyl)phthalimidine with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone proceeding via the nucleophilic substitution of the activated halogen atom in aryl halide has been studied. Conditions ensuring formation of noncrosslinked high-molecular-mass homo- and copoly(arylene ether ketones) containing side alcoholic hydroxyl groups (4,4′-difluorobenzophenone: a mixture of bisphenols: K₂CO₃: Na₂CO₃ = 1: 1: 1: 0.05) have been established. The polymers have M _w = (20–88.7) × 10³ and show good solubility in organic solvents; their onset temperatures of softening are in the range 195–250°C. Polymer films cast from solution are characterized by a breaking strength of 78–109 MPa.