Aromatic polyesters containing cardo perhydrocumyl cyclohexylidene groups: Synthesis,characterization and gas permeation study

Three bisphenols containing cardo perhydrocumyl cyclohexylidene group, namely; 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-perhydrocumylcyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-4-perhydrocumylcyclohexane and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-4-perhydrocumylcyclohexane were synthesized starting from p-cumyl phenol. Each of these bisphenols was polycondensed with both terephthaloyl chloride and isophthaloyl chloride by phase transfer-catalyzed interfacial polymerization to obtain a series of new aromatic polyesters. Inherent viscosities and number average molecular weights of polyesters were in the range 0.51-0.64 dL/g and 17390-41430?g/mol, respectively which indicated the formation of reasonably high molecular weight polymers. The detailed NMR studies revealed that axial and equatorial identity of the phenyl rings of bisphenols was retained in polyesters resulting in constitutional isomerism. Polyesters containing perhydrocumyl cyclohexylidene groups showed excellent solubility in organic solvents viz, chloroform, dichloromethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and tetrahydrofuran. The self-standing films of polyesters could be cast from their chloroform solution. The 10% weight loss temperatures and glass transition temperatures of polyesters were in the range 453–485?°C and 201–267?°C, respectively demonstrating their excellent thermal characteristics. The gas permeability study of polyesters was carried out for He, H₂ and N₂ by variable-volume method. An improvement in permeability and decrease in selectivity was observed due to symmetric methyl substituents while reverse trend was observed in case of polyesters with asymmetric methyl substituents.     

Design and Synthesis of Aromatic Polyesters Bearing Pendant Clickable Maleimide Groups

A bisphenol bearing pendant maleimide group, namely, N‐maleimidoethyl‐3, 3‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐isobenzopyrrolidone (PPH‐MA) was synthesized starting from phenolphthalein. Aromatic (co)polyesters bearing pendant maleimide groups were synthesized from PPH‐MA and aromatic diacid chlorides, namely, isophthaloyl chloride (IPC), terephthaloyl chloride (TPC), and 50:50 mol % mixture of IPC and TPC by low temperature solution polycondensation technique. Copolyesters were also synthesized by polycondensation of different molar proportions of PPH‐MA and bisphenol A with IPC. Inherent viscosities and number‐average molecular weights of aromatic (co)polyesters were in the range of 0.52–0.97 dL/g and 20,200–32,800 g/mol, respectively indicating formation of medium to reasonably high‐molecular‐weight polymers. ¹³C NMR spectral analysis of copolyesters revealed the formation of random copolymers. The 10% weight loss temperature of (co)polyesters was found in the range 470–484 °C, indicating their good thermal stability. A selected aromatic polyester bearing pendant maleimide groups was chemically modified via thiol‐maleimide Michael addition reaction with two representative thiol compounds, namely, 4‐chlorothiophenol and 1‐adamantanethiol to yield post‐modified polymers in a quantitative manner. Additionally, it was demonstrated that polyester containing pendant maleimide groups could be used to form insoluble crosslinked gel in the presence of a multifunctional thiol crosslinker. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 630–640     

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     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble polyesters derived from various cardo bisphenols by solution polycondensation

A series of new polyesters was prepared from terephthaloyl (or isophthaloyl) chloride acid with various cardo bisphenols on solution polycondensation in nitrobenzene using pyridine as hydrogen chloride quencher at 150 °C. These polyesters were produced with inherent viscosities of 0.32–0.49 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, and o‐chlorophenol. The polyesters containing cardo groups including diphenylmethylene, tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decyl, tert‐butylcyclohexyl, phenylcyclohexyl, and cyclododecyl groups exhibited better solubility than bisphenol A–based polyesters. These polymers showed glass transition temperatures (T_g's) between 185 °C and 243 °C and decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss ranging from 406 °C to 472 °C in nitrogen. These cardo polyesters exhibited higher T_g's and better solubility than bisphenol A‐based polyesters. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4451–4456, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ether naphthalimide)s

A series of new poly(ether imide)s containing the naphthalimide moiety were prepared from bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)naphthalimides and several bisphenols by aromatic nucleophilic displacement polymerization. These polyimides had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.31–1.04 dL/g in chloroform and glass transition temperatures of 283.0–341.6°C by differential scanning calorimetry. The onset temperature for 5% weight loss for all the polymers was over 448°C, as assessed by thermogravimetry at a heating rate 10°C/min in nitrogen. In addition, these novel polyimides exhibited good solubility in organic solvents including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and chloroform. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3227–3231, 1999     

Preparation of poly(ether ketone)s derived from 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid via nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization

From the viewpoint of the suppression of the petroleum consumption, aromatic poly(ether ketone)s (PEKs) were prepared by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization of 2,5‐bis(4‐fluorobenzoyl)furan (BFBF) synthesized from biomass and aromatic bisphenols. The model reaction of BFBF and p‐methoxyphenol revealed that BFBF possessed enough reactivity for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions. The polymerizations of BFBF and aromatic bisphenols afforded high molecular weight polymers with good yields in N‐methylpyrrolidone and diphenyl sulfone for several hours. The longer polymerization time brought about the formation of insoluble parts in any solvents and reduction of molecular weight. The obtained PEKs were thermoplastics and exhibited good thermal stability, mechanical properties, and chemical resistance comparable to common high‐performance polymers. The thermal properties were tunable with the structure of bisphenols. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3094–3101     

A new cardo bisphenol monomer containing pendant azido group and the resulting aromatic polyesters

Expanding on our strategy to synthesize aromatic step‐growth polymers containing pendant clickable azido groups via functional monomer approach, we have now designed and synthesized a new cardo bisphenol, viz., 2‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐3, 3‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) isoindolin‐1‐one (PPH‐N₃). PPH‐N₃ was conveniently synthesized starting from commercially available phenolphthalein by a three‐step route in an overall yield of 65% using simple organic transformations. Aromatic (co)polyesters bearing pendant azido groups were synthesized by low‐temperature solution polycondensation of PPH‐N₃ or different molar ratios of PPH‐N₃ and bisphenol‐A (BPA) with aromatic diacid chlorides in dry dichloromethane in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) as a base. The formation of medium to reasonably high‐molecular‐weight (co)polyesters was evidenced from intrinsic viscosity and number‐average molecular‐weight measurements that were in the range 0.52–0.85 dL/g and 16,700–28,200, respectively. Tough, transparent, and flexible films could be cast from chloroform solutions of these (co)polyesters. (Co)polyesters were characterized using FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, XRD, and TGA. The thermal curing reaction of (co)polyesters involving decomposition of azido groups was studied by DSC analysis. The chemical modification of a representative copolyester containing pendant azido groups was carried out quantitatively using catalyst‐free azide‐maleimide cycloaddition reaction with two maleimides, namely, N‐methylmaleimide and N‐hexylmaleimide. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1516–1526     

Studies on metathetical and thermal polymerization of 5-norbornene 2,3-dicarboximide end-capped resins Pt-II

The article deals with synthesis, characterization, and polymerization of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboximide end-capped resins (bisnadimides) based on 4,4′-diaminodiphenylether, 1,4/1,3-bis(4′-aminophenoxy) benzene, 2,2′-bis[4-(4′-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, and bis[4-(4′-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulphone. Both exo and endo bisnadimides were prepared by reacting the aromatic diamines with exo or endo nadic anhydride in glacial acetic acid at 120°C. The exo or endo bisnadimides could be distinguished on the basis of differences observed in IR or ¹H-NMR spectra. Both thermal (in solid state) and metathetical polymerization (using WCl₆/tetramethyltin catalyst and chlorobenzene solvent) of bisnadimides was carried out. Only exo bisnadimides could be polymerized using metathesis reaction whereas thermal polymerization of both endo and exo bisnadimide could be successfully carried out at 300°C in static air atmosphere. The polymers were highly crosslinked and insoluble in common organic solvents. The polymers obtained by metathesis polymerization were light brown in color whereas those obtained by thermal polymerization were dark brown in color. Thermal stability of the thermally polymerized exo or endo bisnadimides was comparable. These polymers were stable up to 400°C and decomposed in a single step above this temperature. The char yield at 800°C depended on the structure of the polymer and was in the 39–56% range. The polymers formed by metathesis polymerization showed a 1–3% weight loss in the temperature range 226–371°C and decomposed in a single step above 440°C. The char yields were higher in these polymers (53–71%) compared to those obtained by thermal polymerization. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2323–2331, 1997     

Synthesis and functionalities of poly(N-vinylalkylamide). V. Control of a lower critical solution temperature of poly(N-vinylalkylamide)

N-vinyl-n-butyramide (NVBA), N-vinylisovaleramide (NVIVA), and N-vinyl-n-valeramide (NVVA), which are N-vinylalkylamides with different alkyl groups were synthesized and their solution behavior in a polymeric form was examined. Copolymers of N-vinylisobutyramide (NVIBA) with N-vinylacetamide (NVA), NVIBA with NVVA, and NVVA with NVA were prepared by the solution polymerization to control the LCSTs. The resultant polyNVBA showed a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) sharply at 32°C, but polyN-vinylisovaleramide (polyNVIVA) and polyN-vinyl-n-valeramide(polyNVVA) that have n-butyl and isobutyl groups, respectively, on their side chains were insoluble even in cold water. The water solubility of the resulting polymers was found to vary, depending on the molecular shapes as well as the side chain length of the alkyl groups in question. The copolymers consisting of NVVA, NVIBA, and NVA in water showed LCSTs sharply between 10 and 90°C, depending on changes in their comonomer content. It was found that the changes in LCST that are caused by the incorporation of comonomers are due to changes in the overall hydrophilicity of the polymer. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3087–3094, 1997     

Biodegradable polymers based on renewable resources. II. Synthesis and biodegradability of polyesters containing furan rings

A series of polyesters were synthesized by the bulk polycondensations of the respective combinations of two difuranic diesters, i.e., bis(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-furyl)methane ( 4a ) and 1,1-bis(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-furyl)ethane ( 4b ), with two 1,4 : 3,6-dianhydrohexitols [1,4 : 3,6-dianhydro-D -glucitol ( 1 ) and 1,4 : 3,6-dianhydro-D -mannitol ( 2 )], four aliphatic diols, and three oligo(ethylene glycol)s. The polycondensations were carried out at 220–230°C in the presence of titanium isopropoxide as a catalyst, giving polyesters having number average molecular weight up to 2.4 × 10⁴. These polyesters are soluble in a variety of solvents including chlorinated hydrocarbons, 1,4-dioxane, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and sulfolane. Soil-burial tests along with enzymatic degradation experiments showed that these polyesters are potentially biodegradable. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2729–2737, 1997     

Synthesis and functionalities of poly(N-vinylalkylamide). IV. Synthesis and free radical polymerization of N-vinylisobutyramide and thermosensitive properties of the polymer

Pyrolysis of (N-α-isopropoxyethyl)isobutyramide, which was obtained by the reaction of isobutyramide, 2-propanol, and acetaldehyde in the presence of conc. sulfuric acid, produced N-vinylisobutyramide (NVIBA). The free radical polymerization of NVIBA was carried out in various solvents in the presence of a radical initiator. It was found that the polymerizability of NVIBA is similar to that of N-vinylacetamide. The resulting polyNVIBA showed a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) sharply at 39°C. Thermosensitive properties of polyNVIBA were investigated in comparison with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1763–1768, 1997     

Kinetic behavior in free-radical polymerization of isomer methacrylic monomers with active functional groups as side substituents

The kinetic behavior of the free-radical polymerization of 2-hydroxy-4-N-methacrylamidobenzoic acid (4-HMA) and 2-hydroxy-5-N-methacrylamidobenzoic acid (5-HMA) in a solution of N,N-dimethylformamide is described. The methacrylic monomers 4-HMA and 5-HMA were isomers in which the phenolic and carboxylic functional groups were in different positions on the side aromatic ring with respect to the methacrylamide group. Semiempirical (AM1 and PM3 treatments) and ab initio (6-31G**) quantum mechanical calculations indicated the existence of intramolecular H-bonding between the phenolic and carboxylic groups. These calculations also indicated a slightly higher reactivity of 4-HMA with respect to 5-HMA under the same experimental conditions as obtained from the frontier orbital interactions between the highest molecular orbital of the monomers and the singly occupied molecular orbital of the radical obtained by the reaction of a methyl radical with the corresponding monomer. Gravimetric study of the free-radical polymerization of 4-HMA and 5-HMA at several temperatures ranging from 50 to 150 °C demonstrated this behavior. The kinetic results obtained and the average molecular weights of the polymers prepared at different temperatures indicated that the monomer 4-HMA had a slightly higher reactivity at low temperatures (50–90 °C), whereas at higher temperatures (120–150 °C), the reactivity of both monomers became similar as a consequence of the “dead-end” radical polymerization. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4528–4535, 1999     

Synthesis of low‐polydispersity poly(N‐ethylmethylacrylamide) by controlled radical polymerizations and their thermal phase transition behavior

Controlled radical polymerizations of N‐ethylmethylacrylamide (EMA) by atom transfer radical polymerization and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer processes were investigated in detail for the first time, employing complementary characterization techniques including gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. In both cases, relatively good control of the polymerization of EMA was achieved, as revealed by the linear evolution of molecular weights with monomer conversions and the low polydispersity of poly(N‐ethylmethylacrylamide) (PEMA). The thermal phase transitions of well‐defined PEMA homopolymers with polydispersities less than 1.2 and degrees of polymerization up to 320 in aqueous solution were determined by temperature‐dependent turbidity measurements. The obtained cloud points (CPs) vary in the range of 58–68 °C, exhibiting inverse molecular weight and polymer concentration dependences. Moreover, the presence of a carboxyl group instead of an alkyl one at the PEMA chain end can elevate its CP by ～3–4 °C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 60–69, 2008     

Synthesis and properties of optically active aromatic polyimides derived from optically pure 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol

A series of new optically active aromatic polyimides containing axially dissymmetric 1,1′-binaphthalene-2,2-diyl units were prepared from optically pure (R)-(+)- or(S)-(−)-2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthalene dianhydrides and various aromatic diamines via a conventional two-step procedure that included ring-opening polycondensation and chemical cyclodehydration. The optically pure isomer of dianhydride was prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of optically pure (R)-(+)- or(S)-(−)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in aprotic polar solvent and subsequent hydrolysis of the resultant tetranitrile derivatives, followed by the dehydration of the corresponding tetracarboxylic acids to obtain the dianhydrides. These polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and m-cresol, etc., and have glass transition temperatures of 251–296°C, and 5% weight loss occurs not lower than 480°C. The specific rotations of the optically active polyimides ranged from +196° to +263°, and the optical stability and chiroptical properties of them were also studied. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3287–3297, 1997     

Molecular weight distribution of polyamides obtained in anionic polymerization of methyl-substituted β-lactams and aminolysis of their N-benzoyl lactams

The anionic ring-opening polymerization of 3-methyl-2-azetidinone ( 3 ) in a mixture of N,N-dimethylacetamide with lithium chloride proceeded quantitatively in a homogeneous phase at 25°C, as well as the living anionic polymerization of 3,3-dimethyl-, 4,4-dimethyl-2-azetidinone ( 1 and 2 respectively) in a similar condition. However, the molecular weight dispersion of the polyamide obtained from 3 was found to be higher than that obtained from 1 and 2. The aminolysis reaction of their N-benzoyllactams and N-acyllactams corresponding to their growing species with benzylamine was investigated kinetically, and one of the reasons for broadening of the molecular weight distribution of the polyamide obtained in the anionic polymerization of 3 was speculated to result from a low value of the ratio of the initiation reaction constant to the propagation one. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1831–1838, 1997     

Synthesis and characterization of novel hyperbranched polybenzimidazoles based on an AB2 monomer containing four amino groups and one carboxylic group

A new kind of AB₂ monomer, 4‐[2,6‐bis(3,4‐diaminophenyl)pyridin‐4‐yl]benzoic acid, was synthesized, and several hyperbranched polybenzimidazoles (HPBIs) were prepared through self‐polymerization followed by modification reactions with end‐capping reagents such as 4‐methyl benzoic acid and 3‐[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy] benzoic acid. The HPBIs had good solubility in strongly aprotic solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N′‐dimethylformamide, N,N′‐dimethylacetamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. They also exhibited excellent thermal properties, with glass‐transition temperatures of 318–381 °C and 10% weight loss in the range of 338–674 °C in nitrogen and 329–509 °C in air. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5729–5739, 2006     

Synthesis of polyamide-imide by blocked-methylene diisocyanates

The synthesis of polyamide-imide (PAI) can be performed by the reaction of p-chlorophenol-(PCP) blocked 4,4′-diphenyl methane diisocyanates (BMDI) with trimellitic anhydride (TMA) using a two-stage heating. At 80°C the polyimide oligomers were first formed and the high molecular weight PAI can not be available until the temperature was increased to 120°C and stayed for 3 h, during which the amide groups were formed and the molecular weight was increased. The molecular weights of the synthesized PAIs on various conditions were analyzed by measuring the intrinsic viscosity, amide/imide ratio from IR spectra, and average chain length from GPC. The best reaction conditions for obtaining a high molecular weight PAI by the solution polymerization are: (a) using N-methyl pyrollidone (NMP) as solvent, (b) adding more BMDI/TMA ratio, and (c) adding tert-n-butyl amine as the catalyst for the dissociation of blocked MDI and controlling the catalyst concentration at 0.162M. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1711–1717, 1997     

Hydrogen‐transfer polymerization of vinyl monomers derived from 4‐methylbenzoyl isocyanate and acrylamide derivatives

The anionic polymerization of N‐acryloyl‐N′‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)urea (1) was carried out at 80°C for 24 h in DMF, DMSO, acetonitrile, or toluene by t‐BuOK or DBU (3 mol %) as an initiator to obtain polymer 3 in a good yield. The structure of 3 was dependent upon the initiator used, in which t‐BuOK selectively conducted the hydrogen‐transfer polymerization, while DBU partially induced the vinyl polymerization (16–20%). Likewise, N‐acryloyl‐N‐methyl‐N′‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)urea (2, i.e., an N‐methylated derivative of 1) was subjected to the hydrogen‐transfer polymerization. Although the yield of the polymer was lower in comparison with 1, the structure of the obtained polymer 4 was similarly governed by the initiator. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 465–472, 1999     

Thermal latency and structure–activity relationship of aminimides in the polymerization of epoxide

1,1-Dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxypropyl)amine p-substituted benzimide (“aminimide”) derivatives were prepared by the reaction of p-substituted methyl benzoates with equimolar amounts of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and propylene oxide. These ylide compounds are shown to be useful as thermally latent initiators for the polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE). Bulk polymerization of GPE with 3 mol % of these aminimides was carried out at 40–150°C for 8 h, showing ≥ 100°C was required for an effective rate. No consumption of the monomer could be observed at temperatures lower than 80°C. p-Methoxy substituted 1 showed the largest thermal latency among four aminimides tested. The activities of the aminimides increased with an increase of electron-donating ability of the substituents on the benzene ring, according to the following order: 1 (p-MeO) > 2 (p-Me) > 3 (H) > 4 (p-NO₂). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 689–694, 1997     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamides based on 4,4′-(2,7-naphthalenedioxy)dibenzoic acid

4,4′-(2,7-Naphthalenedioxy)dibenzoic acid, a new aromatic dicarboxylic acid monomer, was prepared starting from 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene and p-fluorobenzonitrile in three steps. Using triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and pyridine as condensing agents, a series of novel aromatic polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of the diacid monomer and aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride. The resulting polyamides had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.48 to 0.67 dL/g. Most of these polyamides were readily soluble in polar solvents, such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent, flexible, and tough films were cast from their DMAc solutions. They had tensile strengths of 65–70 MPa, elongations to break of 5–7%, and initial moduli of 1.4–1.6 GPa. Most of these polymers proved to be amorphous, with glass transition temperatures in the range between 143–227°C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) showed that all the polyamides were stable up to 450°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1469–1478, 1997