Synthesis of polyamides by ring-opening polyaddition: Reaction of 4,4′-disubstituted bisazlactones with diamines

Ring-opening polyaddition of 4,4′-disubstituted bisazlactones with various diamines was carried out in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone to afford polyamides with pendant amide group having inherent viscosities of 0.17-0.51 in quantitative yields. The solution polymerization with aliphatic diamines was almost complete at room temperature within 24 hr. Nearly all of the polyamides were soluble in polar in polar aprotic solvents and in acidic solvents. These polymers began to decompose at around 200–300°C as determined by DTA and TGA under nitrogen.