Self-condensation reaction of aromatic tetraamines in polyphosphoric acid

Ladder and partial ladder polymers have been obtained by self-condensation reactions of 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene, 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl sulfone in polyphosphoric acid. The products thus obtained are highly colored compounds with good thermal stability. They seem to be made up of polyquinoxaline or dihydrophenazine or a mixture of these two recurring units. They are slightly soluble in methanesulfonic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid and have inherent viscosities in the 0.2 to 0.4 range.     

Synthesis and Properties of Pyrrones Containing p-Benzoquinone Units

Novel pyrrones were synthesized by one-stage polycondensation in polyphosphoric acid of 2,3,5,6-tetraamino-l,4-benzoquinone with pyromellitic anhydride, 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, or 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride. The prepared polymers showed a considerable percentage of imide linkages, so they were heated at 350°C under high vacuum to increase the ring closure to the pyrrone structure. The polymers were insoluble in all common polar aprotic solvents, even in dimethylacetamide-water mixture, after reduction with sodium dithionite, but were slightly soluble in concentrated sulfuric and methanesulfonic acid. The thermal decomposition of the polymers (weight loss 5%) started above 400°C both under nitrogen and in air.     

Some Recent Results on the Synthesis of Certain Aromatic Heterocyclic Polymers

Abstract

Continued research on poly(bisbenzimidazobenzophenanthrolines) from one-step condensation of 1, 4, 5, 8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic (NTA) acid and 3, 3′-diaminobenzidene in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) has led to good-quality fibers with outstanding resistance to high temperatures and Fade-O-Meter aging. The condensation of 4, 5-diamino-1, 8-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid derivatives produces low molecular weight polyperimidines which have good stability. The polyimide from condensation of 1, 1′, 5, 5′-diphenyldianhydride is insoluble in all solvents tried and shows moderate thermal stability. The completely soluble ladder polymer from condensation of 1, 4, 5, 8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid with 1,2,4,5-tetraamino benzene in polyphosphoric acid has been obtained in high molecular weight (intrinsic viscosities in methane sulfonic acid at 30°C of over 5 dl/g).     

Synthesis of polyimide and poly(imide-benzoxazole) in polyphosphoric acid

A polyimide made from 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) was synthesized in polyphosphoric acid. Although the polymerization proceeded heterogeneously, a polyimide with an inherent viscosity of 0.90 was obtained, and a tough and flexible film was made from this polyimide. This polymerization was a one-step reaction including polycondensation and imidization; this was also confirmed by a model reaction between aniline and phthalic anhydride. Utilizing this polymerization method, 3,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl and 2 mol of 4-aminobenzoic acid were reacted in PPA, then BPDA was reacted to obtain an alternate copolymer containing imide and oxazole rings. This reaction gave a homogeneous solution of the poly(imide-benzoxazole). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and properties of polyimides and polyamide-imides from diisocyanates

Polyimides of different structures were synthesized by reaction of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI) and 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI) with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA). Polyamide-imides were also prepared by reaction of PPDI and NDI with trimellitic anhydride. The optimized condition for polymerization reactions were obtained via the study of model compounds. All polymers and model compounds were characterized by conventional methods. Physical properties of polymers, including thermal behavior, thermal stability, solution viscosity, and solubility behavior, were also studied. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2245–2250, 1999     

Polymers with quinoxaline units. III. Polymers with quinoxaline and thiazine recurring units

Six ladder or partly ladder polymers have been prepared by the condensation reactions of combinations of two diaminodithiophenols, 4,6-diamino-1,3-dithiophenol and 3,3′-dimercaptobenzidine, with three tetrachloroquinoxaline derivatives, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-1,4,6,9-tetraazaanthracene, 2,2′,3,3′-tetrachloro-6,6′-bisquinoxaline, and 2,2′,3,3′-tetrachloro-6,6′-diquinoxalyl ether, with the use of dimethylacetamide, hexamethylphos phoramide, and polyphosphoric acid as reaction media. The polymers thus obtained are highly colored, powedery materials which are slightly soluble in methanesulfonic acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. These polymers (η_inh > 1) show good thermal stability.     

Novel polybenzoxazinones with tricyclic fused-rings

A series of polybenzoxazinones containing phenoxathiin and phenoxaphosphine units were prepared from tricyclic diacid chlorides and 4,4′-diaminobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid and 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-diphenylmethane dicarboxylic acid. The low temperature solution polymerization technique afforded polyamic acid which subsequently underwent cyclization along the polymer chain in a solvent mixture of refluxing N,N′-dimethylacetamide, acetic anhydride, and pyridine to give polybenzoxazinones in moderate yields. The polymers thus obtained had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.15–0.23 dL/g, were sparingly soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and were found to be thermally more stable than the corresponding open-chain polymer with diphenylether linkage.     

Polyimides from isomeric diphenylthioether dianhydrides

3,3′,4,4′‐Diphenylthioether dianhydride (4,4′‐TDPA), 2,3,3′,4′‐diphenylthioether dianhydride (3,4′‐TDPA), and 2,2′,3,3′‐diphenylthioether dianhydride (3,3′‐TDPA) were synthesized from 3‐chlorophthalic anhydride and 4‐chlorophthalic anhydride. A series of polyimides derived from the isomeric diphenylthioether dianhydrides with several diamines were prepared. The properties, such as the solubility, thermal and mechanical behavior, dynamic mechanical behavior, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and permeability to some gases, were compared among the isomeric polyimides. Both 3,3′‐TDPA‐ and 3,4′‐TDPA‐based polyimides had good solubility in polar aprotic solvents and phenols. The 5% weight loss temperatures of all the obtained polyimides was near 500 °C in nitrogen. The glass‐transition temperatures decreased according to the order of the polyimides based on 3,3′‐TDPA, 3,4′‐TDPA, and 4,4′‐TDPA. The 3,4′‐TDPA‐based polyimides had the best permeability and lowest permselectivity, whereas the 4,4′‐TDPA‐based polyimides had the highest permselectivity and the lowest permeability of the three isomers. Furthermore, the rheological properties of thermoplastic polyimide resins based on the isomeric diphenylthioether dianhydrides were investigated, and they showed that polyimide 3,4′‐TDPA/4,4‐oxydianiline had the lowest melt viscosity among the isomers; this indicated that the melt processibility had been greatly improved. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 959–967, 2006     

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     

Aromatic polyamides and polyimides derived from 3,3′-diaminobiphenyl: Synthesis,characterization, and molecular simulation study

In this article a new synthesis of 3,3′-diaminobiphenyl (3,3′-DABP) is described, along with the preparation and characterization of polyamides and polyimides based on it. Reactivity of this monomer was calculated by a molecular simulation study, using ab initio quantum-mechanical methods. Terephthaloyl and isophthaloyl chloride were used for the synthesis of polyamides, while 3,3′,4,4′-biphenylenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride were used for the synthesis of polyimides. Medium to high molecular weight polymers were attained, with inherent viscosities near or higher than 1.0 dL/g, the solubility of the 3,3′-DABP polymers was much better than that of the homologous polymers from benzidine (4,4′-DABP), the glass-transition temperatures were lower, by about 40°C, and the thermal resistance, as measured by thermogravimetry, was virtually the same. Amorphous films, made from cast polymer solutions, showed excellent mechanical properties, comparable to conventional aromatic polyamides and polyimides. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that the radius of giration, end-to-end distance and density of poly(3,3′-DABP-isophthalamide) were lower than those of poly(4,4′-DABP-isophthalamide), as a consequence of the chain folding induced in the backbone by the m-substitution in 3,3′-DABP. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4646–4655, 1999     

Organosoluble polyimides and copolyimides based on 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐1‐phenylethane and aromatic dianhydrides

1,1‐Bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐1‐phenylethane (BAPPE) was prepared through nucleophilic substitution reaction of 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylethane and p‐chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃ in N,N‐dimethylformamide, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Novel organosoluble polyimides and copolyimides were synthesized from BAPPE and six kinds of commercial dianhydrides, including pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA, I_a ), 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA, I_b ), 3,3′,4,4′‐ biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA, I_c ), 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA, I_d ), 3,3′,4,4′‐diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DSDA, I_e ) and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride (6FDA, I_f ). Differing with the conventional polyimide process by thermal cyclodehydration of poly(amic acid), when polyimides were prepared by chemical cyclodehydration with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as used solvent, resulted polymers showed good solubility. Additional, I_a,b were mixed respectively with the rest of dianhydrides (I_c–f) and BAPPE at certain molar ratios to prepare copolyimides with arbitrary solubilities. These polyimides and copolyimides were characterized by good mechanical properties together with good thermal stability. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2082–2090, 2000     

Polybenzodipyrroloquinoxalines

Three polymers have been prepared by the condensation of benzo[1,2-b;5,4-b ′]-dipyrrolo-2,3,4,5-tetraone (I) with 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene (II), 3,3 ′-diaminobenzidine (III), and 3,3 ′,4,4 ′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether (IV) in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) solution. The polymer structures were substantiated by comparison of their infrared and ultraviolet spectra with spectra of the model compounds and elemental analysis. The polymers had inherent viscosities of 0.86-0.90 (H₂SO₄) and thermal stabilities of 460°C and up to 700°C in air and nitrogen atmospheres, respectively.     

Synthesis of benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and pyromellitic dianhydride incorporated biscitraconimides and their thermal polymerization

Biscitraconimides incorporated with 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) were synthesised. Their curing behavior as well as thermal stabilities were investigated. The intermediate amic acids were prepared by the reaction of 4-amino 4′-citraconamic acid diphenyl sulphone, 4-amino 4′-citraconamic acid diphenyl ether, and 12-amino 1-citraconamic acid dodecane with BTDA and PMDA, respectively. Six amic acids formed were then imidized by cyclocondensation with acetic anhydride. The imide monomers were obtained and these were cured at 225–240°C. The thermal stabilities of the polymers so formed were investigated and compared. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polyimides from isomeric oxydiphthalic anhydrides

2,2′,3,3′‐Oxydiphthalic dianhydride (2,2′,3,3′‐ODPA) and 2,3,3′,4′‐ODPA were synthesized from 3‐chlorophthalic anhydride with 2,3‐xylenol and 3,4‐xylenol, respectively. Their structures were determined via single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. A series of polyimides derived from isomeric ODPAs with several diamines were prepared in dimethylacetamide (DMAc) with the conventional two‐step method. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight spectra showed that the polymerization of 2,2′,3,3′‐ODPA with 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) has a greater trend to form cyclic oligomers than that of 2,3,3′,4′‐ODPA. Both 2,2′,3,3′‐ODPA and 2,3,3′,4′‐ODPA based polyimides have good solubility in polar aprotic solvents such as DMAc, dimethylformamide, and N‐methylpyrrolidone. The 5% weight‐loss temperatures of all polyimides were obtained near 500 °C in air. Their glass‐transition temperatures measured by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis or differential scanning calorimetry decreased according to the order of polyimides on the basis of 2,2′,3,3′‐ODPA, 2,3,3′,4′‐ODPA, and 3,3′,4,4′‐ODPA. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction of all polyimide films from isomeric ODPAs and ODA showed some certain extent of crystallization after stretching. Rheological properties revealed that polyimide (2,3,3′,4′‐ODPA/ODA) has a comparatively lower melt viscosity than its isomers, which indicated its better melt processability. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3249–3260, 2003     

Polycondensation of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid with some di- and tetraamino compounds

Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid phenyl ester was condensed with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether. Polyamides were also synthesized by condensation of the above ester with p-phenylenediamine, benzidine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfide and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone. These amides had higher inherent viscosities and greater thermal stability than was reported before. Model compounds of imidazoles were prepared by condensation of the same ester with o-phenylenediamine and 2,3-diaminopyridine and of polyamides by condensation with aniline and 2-aminopyridine. In the case of the polyimidazole, the completely closed ring of imidazole did not form. The ultraviolet spectra of model compounds were compared with those of the polymers. The thermogravimetric curves show that the polymers are stable up to more than 400°C under argon atmosphere. All polymers were insoluble in most organic and inorganic solvents. They dissolved only partially in DMSO and DMF. Inherent viscosity was measured for the soluble polymer fraction.     

Synthesis and Ni(0)-catalyzed oligomerization of isomeric 4,4‴-dichloroquaterphenyls

4,4?-Dichloro-1,1′ : 2′,1″ : 2″,1?-quaterphenyl ( 9 ), 4,4?-dichloro-1,1′ : 3′,1″ : 3″,1?-quaterphenyl ( 10 ), and 4,4?-dichloro-1,1′ : 4′,1″ : 4″,1?-quaterphenyl ( 11 ) were synthesized by Pd (0) catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 4-chlorobenzeneboronic acid with 2,2′-, 3,3′-, and 4,4′-bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)biphenyl respectively. 4,4?-Dichloro-1,1′ : 2′,1″ : 2″,1?-quaterphenyl ( 9 ) and 4,4?-dichloro-1,1′ : 3′,1″ : 3″,1?-quaterphenyl ( 10 ) were oligomerized by Ni(0) catalyzed homocoupling reaction to yield white and soluble oligophenylenes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymers containing anthraquinone and quinoxaline units: Polypyrrolones

Four ladder or partial ladder polypyrrolones containing anthraquinone recurring units have been synthesized by condensing the dianhydride of 1,2,5,6-bis(α,β-dicarboxyl-pyrazino)anthraquinone with four different tetraamines, 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene tetrahydrochloride, 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl, 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether, and 1,2,5,6-tetraaminoanthraquinone in dimethylacetamide and tetramethylene sulfone as reaction media. A prepolymer with an open structure was first formed which on further heating gave a closed-ring structure. These polymers which were highly colored, powdery materials, were insoluble in common organic solvents and slightly soluble only in concentrated H₂SO₄. They could, however, be solubilized in alkali by reduction with sodium dithionite. These polymers with an inherent viscosity in the range of 0.2–0.5, showed good thermal stability.     

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     

Synthesis and micropatterning properties of a novel base‐soluble,positive‐working,photosensitive polyimide having an o‐nitrobenzyl ether group

A novel positive‐working, photosensitive polyimide, poly[1,4‐phenyleneoxy‐1,4‐phenylene‐2,2′‐di(2‐nitrobenzyloxy)benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxdiimide] (OPI‐Nb), developable with an aqueous base was prepared by the o‐nitrobenzylation of a polyimide, poly(1,4‐phenyleneoxy‐1,4‐phenylene‐2,2′‐dihydroxybenzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxdiimide) (OPI), derived from 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (DHBA) and 4,4′‐oxydianiline, and it micropatterning properties were investigated. The o‐nitrobenzylation of OPI to OPI‐Nb was conducted with o‐nitrobenzyl bromide in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone containing Et₃N. The DHBA monomer was synthesized by exhaustive KMnO₄ oxidation of bis(2‐dimethoxy‐3,4‐dimethylphenyl)methane obtained by etherification of bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,4‐dimethylphenyl)methane with iodomethane, followed by deprotection of the methoxy groups and cyclodehydration of the obtained 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐3,3′4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid. The intermediate bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,4‐dimethylphenyl)methane was prepared by the condensation of 2,3‐dimethylphenol with paraformaldehyde. The degree of o‐nitrobenzylation was determined to be over 94 mol % from ¹H NMR absorption of benzylic CH₂ protons. The aromatic OPI was perfectly soluble in a dilute aqueous NaOH solution and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), whereas OPI‐Nb was not even swellable in them. In the micropatterning process, OPI‐Nb showed a line‐width resolution of 0.4‐μm and a sensitivity of 5.4 J/cm² when its thin films were irradiated with 365‐nm light and developed with a 2.38% aqueous TMAH solution at room temperature for 90 s. The thickness loss of OPI‐Nb films measured after postbaking at 350 °C was in the 8–9% range. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 776–788, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated aromatic polyimides derived from 1,1‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1‐(3,5‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane and various aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated aromatic diamine, 1,1‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)‐1‐(3,5‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane (9FMA), was synthesized by the coupling reaction of 3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethyl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroacetophenone with 2,6‐dimethylaniline under the catalysis of 2,6‐dimethylaniline hydrochloride. A series of fluorinated aromatic polyimides were synthesized from 9FMA and various aromatic dianhydrides, including pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3′4,4′‐biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride, via a high‐temperature, one‐stage imidization process. The inherent viscosities of the polyimides ranged from 0.37 to 0.74 dL/g. All the polyimides were quickly soluble in many low‐boiling‐point organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and acetone as well as some polar organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N′‐dimethylacetamide, and N,N′‐dimethylformamide. Freestanding fluorinated polyimide films could be prepared and exhibited good thermal stability with glass‐transition temperatures of 298–334 °C and outstanding mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 69–102 MPa and elongations at break of 3.3–9.9%. Moreover, the polyimide films possessed low dielectric constants of 2.70–3.09 and low moisture absorption (<0.58%). The films also exhibited good optical transparency with a cutoff wavelength of 303–351 nm. One polyimide (9FMA/BTDA) also exhibited an intrinsic negative photosensitivity, and a fine pattern could be obtained with a resolution of 5 μm after exposure at the i‐line (365‐nm) wavelength. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2665–2674, 2006