New light‐colored poly(ether imide)s based on 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone bis(ether anhydride) and aromatic diamines

A series of poly(ether imide)s (PEIs), III _a–k , with light color and good physical properties were prepared from 1,4‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxypheoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene dianhydride ( I ) with various aromatic diamines ( II _a–k ) via a conventional two‐stage procedure that included a ring‐opening polyaddition to yield poly(amic acid)s (PAA), followed by thermal imidization to the PEI. The intermediate PAA had inherent viscosities in the range of 1.00–1.53 dL g^?1. Most of the PEIs showed excellent solubility in chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and m‐cresol, but did not easily dissolve in dimethyl sulfoxide and amide‐type polar solvents. The III series had tensile strengths of 96–116 MPa, an elongation at break of 7–8%, and initial moduli of 2.0–2.5 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) and softening temperatures (T_s's) of the III series were recorded between 232 and 285 °C and 216–279 °C, respectively. The decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss all occurred above 511 °C in nitrogen and 487 °C in air. The III series showed low dielectric constants (2.71–3.54 at 1 MHz), low moisture absorption (0.18–0.66 wt %), and was light‐colored with a cutoff wavelength below 380 nm and a low yellow index (b^*) values of 7.3–14.8. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1270–1284, 2005     

Syntheses and properties of organosoluble polyimides based on 5,5′‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐4, 7‐methanohexahydroindan

A series of organosoluble aromatic polyimides (PIs) was synthesized from 5,5′‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐4,7‐methanohexahydroindan (3) and commercial available aromatic dianhydrides such as 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 4,4′‐sulfonyl diphthalic anhydride (SDPA), or 2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropanic dianhydride (6FDA). PIs (III_c–f), which were synthesized by direct polymerization in m‐cresol, had inherent viscosities of 0.83–1.05 dL/g. These polymers could easily be dissolved in N,N′‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine, m‐cresol, and dichloromethane. Whereas copolymerization was proceeded with equivalent molar ratios of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)/6FDA, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA)/6FDA, or BTDA/SDPA, or ½ for PMDA/SDPA, copolyimides (co‐PIs), derived from 3 and mixed dianhydrides, were soluble in NMP. All the soluble PIs could form transparent, flexible, and tough films, and they showed amorphous characteristics. These films had tensile strengths of 88–111 MPa, elongations at break of 5–10% and initial moduli of 2.01–2.67 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 252–311°C. Except for III_e, the 10% weight loss temperatures (T_d) of PIs were above 500°C, and the amount of carbonized residues of the PIs at 800°C in nitrogen atmosphere were above 50%. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1681–1691, 1999     

Poly(ether imide)s derived from phthalazinone‐containing dianhydrides

An unsymmetrical and noncoplanar heterocyclic dianhydride was synthesized from a bisphenol‐like phthalazinone, 4‐(4‐hydroxylphenyl)‐2,3‐phthalazin‐1‐one, and a series of novel poly(ether imide)s based on it, with intrinsic viscosities of 0.67–1.42 dL/g, were obtained by one‐step solution polymerization in m‐cresol at 200 °C for 20 h. The polymers were readily soluble in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone and m‐cresol. The poly(ether imide)s derived from 4,4′‐oxydianiline and 4,4′‐methylenedianiline were also very soluble in chloroform, 1,1′,2,2′‐tetrachloroethane, and N,N‐dimethylacetamide. The glass‐transition temperatures were 289–326 °C, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. All the degradation temperatures for 5% weight loss occurred above 482 °C in nitrogen. The tensile strength of thin films of some of the polymers varied from 103.1 to 121.4 MPa. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6089–6097, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of new fluorene‐based poly(ether imide)s

A novel bis(ether anhydride) monomer, 9,9‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]fluorene dianhydride (4), was synthesized from the nitrodisplacement of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile by the bisphenoxide ion of 9,9‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)fluorene (1), followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate tetranitrile and dehydration of the resulting tetracarboxylic acid. A series of poly(ether imide)s bearing the fluorenylidene group were prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) 4 with various aromatic diamines 5a–i via a conventional two‐stage process that included ring‐opening polyaddition to form the poly(amic acid)s 6a–i followed by thermal cyclodehydration to the polyimides 7a–i. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.39–1.57 dL/g and afforded flexible and tough films by solution‐casting. Except for those derived from p‐phenylenediamine, m‐phenylenediamine, and benzidine, all other poly(amic acid) films could be thermally transformed into flexible and tough polyimide films. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of these poly(ether imide)s were recorded between 238–306°C with the help of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the softening temperatures (T_s) determined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA) stayed in the range of 231–301°C. Decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss all occurred above 540°C in an air or a nitrogen atmosphere. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1403–1412, 1999     

Preparation,characterization, and properties of poly(thioether ether imide)s from isomeric bis(chlorophthalimide)s and 4,4′‐thiobisbenzenethiol

A series of isomeric poly(thioether ether imide)s (PTEIs) containing both thioether and ether linkages were prepared by nucleophilic substitution reaction of isomeric bis(chlorophthalimide)s with 4,4′‐thiobisbenzenethiol. The inherent viscosities of these polymers were in the range of 0.40–0.56 dL/g in m‐cresol at 30°C. The T_g values of PTEIs were 196–236°C; T_5% values reached up to 509–529°C in nitrogen and 508–534°C in air, which indicated this kind of polyimide possessed excellent thermal stability. The hydrolytic stability was arranged in the order: a > b > c > d > e, and improved with increasing the content of 3‐substituted phthalimide unit in the polymer backbone. Flexible films could be cast from the polymer solution with a solid content of 10%. The PTEI films exhibited good mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 90–104 MPa, elongations at break of 6.6–7.9%, and tensile moduli of 2.3–2.6 GPa. The minimum complex viscosity of PTEIs c was about 100 Pa·s at 310°C and the minimum melt viscosity of PTEIs (a–e) decreased with increasing the content of unsymmetrical 3,4′‐substituted phthalimide units. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(arylene ether)s containing 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one or 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazine moieties

A series of novel soluble pyridazinone‐ or pyridazine‐containing poly(arylene ether)s were prepared by a polycondensation reaction. The pyridazinone monomer, 6‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one ( 1 ), was synthesized from the corresponding acetophenone and glyoxylic acid in a simple one‐pot reaction. The pyridazinone monomer was successfully copolymerized with bisphenol A (BPA) or 1,2‐dihydro‐4‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)phthalazin‐1(2H)‐one (DHPZ) and bis(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfone to form high‐molecular‐weight polymers. The copolymers had inherent viscosities of 0.5–0.9 dL/g. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the copolymers synthesized with BPA increased with increasing content of the pyridazinone monomer. The T_g's of the copolymers synthesized from DHPZ with different pyridazinone contents were similar to those of the two homopolymers. The homopolymers showed T_g's from 202 to 291 °C by differential scanning calorimetry. The 5% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen measured by thermogravimetric analysis were in the range of 411–500 °C. 4‐(6‐Chloropyridazin‐3‐yl)phenol ( 2 ) was synthesized from 1 via a simple one‐pot reaction. 2 was copolymerized with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol and bis(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfone to form high‐T_g polymers. The copolymers with less than 80 mol % pyridazinone or chloropyridazine monomers were soluble in chlorinated solvents such as chloroform. The copolymers with higher pyridazinone contents and homopolymers were not soluble in chlorinated solvents but were still soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents such as N‐methylpyrrolidinone. The soluble polymers could be cast into flexible films from solution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3328–3335, 2006     

Synthesis of optically active poly(amide‐imide)s derived from N,N′‐(4,4′‐carbonyldiphthaloyl)‐bis‐L‐leucine diacid chloride and aromatic diamines by microwave radiation

3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (4,4′‐carbonyldiphathalic anhydride) was reacted with L ‐leucine in a mixture of acetic acid and pyridine (3 : 2), and the resulting imide‐acid [N,N′‐(4,4′‐carbonyldiphthaloyl)‐bis‐L ‐leucine diacid] was obtained in quantitative yield. The compound was converted to the N,N′‐(4,4′‐carbonyldiphthaloyl)‐bis‐L ‐leucine diacid chloride by reaction with thionyl chloride. A new facile and rapid polycondensation reaction of this diacid chloride with several aromatic diamines such as 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl methane, 2,4‐diaminotoluene, 4,4′‐sulfonyldianiline, p‐phenylenedi‐amine, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether, and m‐phenylenediamine was developed by using a domestic microwave oven in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as O‐cresol. The polymerization reactions proceeded rapidly compared with the conventional solution polycondensation and were completed within 6 min, producing a series of optically active poly(amide‐imide)s with a high yield and an inherent viscosity of 0.37–0.57 dL/g. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by IR, elemental analyses, and specific rotation. Some structural characterization and physical properties of these optically active poly(amide‐imide)s are reported. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 177–186, 2001     

New poly(amide–imide)s syntheses. XXIII. Synthesis and properties of poly(amide–imide)s derived from 4,4′‐[1,4‐phenylenebis(isopropylidene‐1,4‐phenyleneoxy)]dianiline and various bis(trimellitimide)s

A series of poly(amide–imide)s III_a–m containing flexible isopropylidene and ether groups in the backbone were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of 4,4′‐[1,4‐phenylenebis(isopropylidene‐1,4‐phenyleneoxy)]dianiline (PIDA) with various bis(trimellitimide)s II_a–m in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The resulting poly(amide–imide)s had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.80–1.36 dL/g. Except for those from the bis(trimellitimide)s of p‐phenylenediamine and benzidine, all the polymers could be cast from DMAc into transparent and tough films. They exhibited excellent solubility in polar solvents. The 10% weight loss temperatures of the polymers in air and in nitrogen were all above 495°C, and their T_g values were in the range of 201–252°C. Some properties of poly(amide–imide)s III were compared with those of the corresponding poly(amide–imide)s V prepared from the bis(trimellitimide) of diamine PIDA and various aromatic diamines. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 69–76, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble,fluorescent poly(arylene ether)s,poly(arylene thioether)s,and poly(arylene sulfone)s containing 1,3,5‐triphenylbenzene segments

The bisphenol 4,4″‐dihydroxy‐5′‐phenyl‐m‐terphenyl ( 4 ), containing a 1,3,5‐triphenylbenzene moiety, was synthesized from a pyrylium salt obtained by the reaction of benzaldehyde with p‐methoxyacetophenone with boron trifluoride etherate as a condensing agent. Polymers were obtained from 4 by a nucleophilic displacement reaction with various activated difluoro monomers and with K₂CO₃ as a base. A series of new poly(arylene ether)s ( 8a – 8f ) were obtained that contained phenyl‐substituted m‐terphenyl segments in the polymer chain. Polymers with inherent viscosities of 0.41–0.99 dL/g were obtained in yields greater than 96%. The polymers were soluble in a variety of organic solvents, including nonpolar solvents such as toluene. Clear, transparent, and flexible films cast from CHCl₃ showed high glass‐transition temperatures (T_g = 198–270 °C) and had excellent thermal stability, as shown by temperatures of 5% weight loss greater than 500 °C. 4 was converted via N,N‐dimethyl‐O‐thiocarbamate into the masked dithiol 4,4″‐bis(N,N′‐dimethyl‐S‐thiocarbamate)‐5′‐phenyl‐m‐terphenyl and was polymerized with activated difluoro compounds in the presence of a mixture of Cs₂CO₃ and CaCO₃ as a base in diphenyl sulfone as a solvent. A series of new poly(arylene thioether)s ( 9a – 9e ) were obtained with T_g values similar to those of 8a – 8e . 9a – 9e were further oxidized into poly(arylene sulfone)s with T_g values 40–80 °C higher than those for 8a – 8e and 9a – 9e . These polymers also had good solubility in organic solvents. A sulfonic acid group was selectively introduced onto the pendent phenyl group of polymers 8a and 8f by reaction with chlorosulfonic acid. The polymers were soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents and formed films via casting from dimethylformamide. Polymers 8a – 8f , 11a , and 11f showed blue and red fluorescence under ultraviolet–visible light with emission maxima at 380–440 nm. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 496–510, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10136     

Syntheses and properties of organosoluble poly(ether imide)s from 1,1‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane dianhydride and aromatic diamines

A bis(ether anhydride) monomer, 1,1‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane dianhydride ( IV‐A ), was synthesized from the nitro displacement of 4‐nitrophthalodinitrile by the phenoxide ion of 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane ( I‐A ), followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and dehydration of the resulting bis(ether acid). A novel series of organosoluble poly(ether imide)s ( VI _a–i )(PEIs) bearing cyclohexylidene cardo groups was prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) IV‐A with various aromatic diamines V _a–i via a conventional two‐stage process. The PEIs had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.48–1.02 dL/g and afforded flexible and tough films by solution‐casting because of their good solubilities in organic solvents. Most PEIs showed yield points in the range of 89–102 MPa at stress‐strain curves and had tensile strengths of 78–103 MPa, elongations at breaks of 8–62%, and initial moduli of 1.8–2.2 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of these PEIs were recorded between 200–234 °C. Decomposition temperatures of 10% weight loss all occurred above 490 °C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres, and their residues were more than 43% at 800 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. The cyclohexane cardo‐based PEIs exhibited relatively higher T_g's, better solubilities in organic solvents, and better tensile properties as compared with the corresponding Ultem® PEI system. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 788–799, 2001     

Aromatic polybenzoxazoles containing ether–sulfone linkages

A series of poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s having both ether and sulfone linkages in the main chain were synthesized via the low‐temperature solution polycondensation of 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride and 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride with three bis(o‐aminophenol)s including 4,4′‐diamino‐3,3′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,3′‐diamino‐4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, and 2,2‐bis(3‐diamino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane. Subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s afforded polyethersulfone benzoxazoles. Most of the poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s were soluble in polar organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone; however, the polybenzoxazoles without the hexafluoroisopropylidene group were organic‐insoluble. The polybenzoxazoles exhibited glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) in the range of 219–282 °C by DSC and softening temperatures (T_s) of 242–320 °C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that most polybenzoxazoles were stable up to 450 °C in air or nitrogen. The 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded in the ranges of 474–593 °C in air and 478–643 °C in nitrogen. The methyl‐substituted polybenzoxazoles had higher T_g's but lower T_s's and initial decomposition temperatures compared with the corresponding unsubstituted polybenzoxazoles. For a comparative purpose, the synthesis and characterization of a series of sulfonyl polybenzoxazoles without the ether group that derived from 4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoyl chloride and bis(o‐aminophenol)s were also reported. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2262–2270, 2001     

Studies on the odd‐even effect of methylene spacers in poly(pyromellitimide‐ester)s

Three series of poly(pyromellitimide‐ester)s were synthesized from various N,N′‐bis(ω‐hydroxyalkyl)pyromellitimides (HAPMIs) by melt condensation with dicarboxylic acids, including terephthalic acid (TPA), 4,4′‐biphenyldicarboxylic acid (BPDA), and 4,4′‐azobenzenedicarboxylic acid (ABDA). Polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, solubility, inherent viscosity, spectra (IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Thermal stability and phase transition behaviour were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and hot‐stage optical polarized microscopy (HOPM). The d‐spacings, calculated from XRD data, showed an odd‐even effect with varying numbers of methylene spacers. Crystallinity of polymers decreased in the following order: azobenzene > biphenyl > phenyl polymers. Similarly, DSC‐obtained melting temperatures (T_m's) showed an odd‐even effect, and glass transition temperatures (T_g's) decreased with increasing numbers of methylene spacers. Thermal stability decreased as methylene chain length increased. Thermal stability of polymers occurred in the following order: phenyl > biphenyl > azobenzene polymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1755–1761, 1999     

Comparative study on polyimides from isomeric 3,3′‐, 3,4′‐, and 4,4′‐linked bis(thioether anhydride)s

Three isomeric bis(thioether anhydride) monomers, 4,4′‐bis(2,3‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,3′‐PTPKDA), 4,4′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (4,4′‐PTPKDA), and 4‐(2,3‐dicarboxyphenylthio)‐4′‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,4′‐PTPKDA), were prepared through multistep reactions. Their structures were determined via Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and elemental analysis. Three series of polyimides (PIs) were prepared from the obtained isomeric dianhydrides and aromatic diamines in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) via the conventional two‐step method. The PIs showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and NMP. Their glass‐transition temperatures decreased according to the order of PIs on the basis of 3,3′‐PTPKDA, 3,4′‐PTPKDA, and 4,4′‐PTPKDA. The 5% weight loss temperatures (T_5%) of all PIs in nitrogen were observed at 504–519 °C. The rheological properties of isomeric PI resins based on 3,3′‐PTPKDA/4,4′‐oxydianiline/phthalic anhydride showed lower complex viscosity and better melt stability compared with the corresponding isomers from 4,4′‐ and 3,4′‐PTPKDA. In addition, the PI films based on three isomeric dianhydrides and 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine had a low moisture absorption of 0.27–0.35%. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and properties of new adamantane‐based poly(ether imide)s

A new adamantane‐based bis(ether anhydride), 2,2‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]adamantane dianhydride, was prepared in three steps starting from nitrodisplacement of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile with the potassium phenolate of 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane. A series of adamantane‐containing poly(ether imide)s were prepared from the adamantane‐based bis(ether anhydride) and aromatic diamines by a conventional two‐stage synthesis in which the poly(ether amic acid)s obtained in the first stage were heated stage‐by‐stage at 150–270°C to give the poly(ether imide)s. The intermediate poly(ether amic acid)s had inherent viscosities between 0.56 and 1.92 dL/g. Except for those from p‐phenylenediamine, m‐phenylenediamine, and benzidine, all the poly(ether amic acid) films could be thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough poly(ether imide) films. All the poly(ether imide)s showed limited solubility in organic solvents, although they were amorphous in nature as evidenced by X‐ray diffractograms. Glass transition temperatures of these poly(ether imide)s were recorded in the range of 242–317°C by differential scanning calorimetry and of 270–322°C by dynamic mechanical analysis. They exhibited high resistance to thermal degrdation, with 10% weight loss temperatures being recorded between 514–538°C in nitrogen and 511–527°C in air. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1619–1628, 1999     

Synthesis and properties of soluble and light‐colored poly(amide‐imide‐imide)s on the basis of tetraimide‐dicarboxylic acid condensed from 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride, 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane,and m‐aminobenzoic acid,and various aromatic diamines

A new type of tetraimide‐dicarboxylic acid ( I ) was synthesized starting from the ring‐opening addition of m‐aminobenzoic acid, 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride, and 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane at a 2:2:1 molar ratio in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), followed by cyclodehydration to the diacid I . A series of soluble and light‐colored poly(amide‐imide‐imide)s ( III _a–j) was prepared by triphenyl phosphite‐activated polycondensation from I with various aromatic diamines ( II _a–j). All films cast from N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) had cutoff wavelengths shorter than 390 nm (374–390 nm) and b* values between 25.26 and 43.61; these polymers were much lighter in color than the alternating trimellitimide series. All of the polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, N,N‐dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and even in less polar m‐cresol and pyridine. Polymers III _a–j afforded tough, transparent, and flexible films that had tensile strengths ranging from 96 to 118 MPa, elongations at break from 9 to 11%, and initial moduli from 2.0 to 2.5 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of the polymers were recorded at 240–268 °C. They had 10% weight loss at a temperature above 540 °C and left more than 55% residue even at 800 °C in nitrogen. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 707–718, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10153     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble cardo polyesters derived from 1,1‐bis‐[4‐(4‐chlorocarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane with various bisphenols by solution polycondensation

A new cardo diacid chloride, 1,1‐bis‐[4‐(4‐chlorocarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane ( 4 ), was synthesized from 1,1‐bis‐[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐tert‐butylcyclohexane in refluxing thionyl chloride. Subsequently, various new polyesters were prepared from 4 with various bisphenols by solution polycondensation in nitrobenzene using pyridine as a hydrogen chloride quencher at 150 °C. These polyesters were produced with inherent viscosities of 0.32–0.50 dL · g^?1. Most of these polyesters exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, tetrachloroethane, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, m‐cresol, o‐chlorophenol, and chloroform. These polymers showed glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) between 144 and 197 °C. The polymer containing the adamantane group exhibited the highest T_g value. The 10% weight loss temperatures of the polyesters, measured by thermogravimetric analysis, were found to be in the range of 426–451 °C in nitrogen. These cardo polyesters exhibited higher T_g's and better solubility than bisphenol A‐based polyesters. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2951–2956, 2001     

Poly(ether sulfone)s using a rigid dibenzothiophene dioxide heterocycle

Poly(aryl ether)s were prepared by nucleophilic aromatic substitution using conformationally restricted dichloro‐ and difluorodibenzothiophene dioxide heterocyclic monomers with bisphenol A or bisphenol AF. The heterocyclic monomers were prepared from the bis(4‐halophenyl) sulfones in two steps via lithiation followed by copper catalyzed intramolecular coupling and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and GC/MS. Reactivity of the fluorine containing monomer was examined using semi‐empirical methods and NMR spectroscopy measurements and found to be potentially more reactive than bis(4‐fluorophenyl) sulfone, even with a conformationally locked sulfone as the electron withdrawing group. Successful polymerizations of both the fluorine and chlorine containing monomers with bisphenol A and bisphenol AF nucleophiles were accomplished, providing polymers with number average molecular weights of approximately 45 kg/mol (difluoro monomer) and 10–20 kg/mol (dichloro monomer). The polymers exhibited high T_gs ranging from 238 to 256 °C and displayed good thermal stability with 5% degradation temperatures in air from 453–510 °C, depending on molecular weight and bisphenol composition. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3127–3131     

Synthesis and refractive‐index control of fluoropolymers by the polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s and triazine di(aryl ether)s

The polyaddition of fluorine‐containing bis(epoxide)s and fluorine‐containing triazine di(aryl ether)s were examined to give the corresponding fluorine‐containing poly(cyanurate)s. It was observed that the synthesized fluoropolymers had good thermal stabilities and good film‐forming properties. The glass transition temperatures (T_g's) and refractive‐indices (n_D's) of synthesized polymers were determined by differential scanning calorimetry and ellipsometry, respectively, and it was found that the values of T_g's and n_D's were supported by their fluorine containing ratios and skeletons. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4421–4429, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of new highly organosoluble poly(etherimide)s derived from 1,1‐bis{4‐[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐phenylcyclohexane} dianhydride

A new bulky pendent bis(ether anhydride), 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐4‐phenylcyclohexane dianhydride, was prepared in three steps, starting from the nitrodisplacement of 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4‐phenylcyclohexane with 4‐nitrophthalonitrile to form bis(ether dinitrile), followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the bis(ether dinitrile) and subsequent dehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). A series of new poly(ether imide)s were prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) with various diamines by a conventional two‐stage synthesis including polyaddition and subsequent chemical cyclodehydration. The resulting poly(ether imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.50–0.73 dL g^?1. The gel permeation chromatography measurements revealed that the polymers had number‐average and weight‐average molecular weights of up to 57,000 and 130,000, respectively. All the polymers showed typical amorphous diffraction patterns. All of the poly(ether imide)s showed excellent solubility in comparison with the other polyimides derived from adamantane, norbornane, cyclododecane, and methanohexahydroindane and were readily dissolved in various solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N‐dimethylformamide, pyridine, cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran, and even chloroform. These polymers had glass‐transition temperatures of 226–255 °C. Most of the polymers could be dissolved in chloroform in as high as a 30 wt % concentration. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that all polymers were stable up to 450 °C, with 10% weight losses recorded from 458 to 497 °C in nitrogen. These transparent, tough, and flexible polymer films could be obtained by solution casting from DMAc solutions. These polymer films had tensile strengths of 79–103 MPa and tensile moduli of 1.5–2.1 GPa. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2066–2074, 2002     

Novel heterocyclic poly(arylene ether ketone)s: Synthesis and polymerization of 4‐(4′‐hydroxyaryl)(2H)phthalazin‐1‐ones with methyl groups

Based on green chemistry, a simple and efficient direct synthesis of 4‐(4′‐hydroxyaryl)(2H)phthalazin‐1‐ones ( 2a–2f ) was developed in a two‐step reaction, in which the Friedel–Crafts acylation reaction of six phenols with phthalic anhydride was initially carried out and then followed by cyclization with hydrazine hydrate in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity. A number of novel heterocyclic poly(arylene ether ketone)s were prepared conveniently from several unsymmetrical, twist, and noncoplanar phthalazinone‐containing monomers ( 2a–2f ) and an activated difluoro monomer via a N? C coupling reaction. It was very interesting that the obtained monomers and polymers exhibited diverse properties with the variation of the number and location of the substituted methyl groups. All these polymers had a high molecular weight with M_n and η_inh in the range of 44,960–169,000 Da and 0.38–0.79 dL/g, respectively. Actually, the obtained polymers displayed excellent thermal properties with T_g's ranging from 222 to 248 °C and 5% weight loss temperatures in nitrogen higher than 430 °C. Moreover, these polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, chloroform, pyridine, and m‐cresol, and could be cast into flexible and colorless or nearly colorless films by spin‐coating or casting processes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1525–1535, 2007