Isolation and Characterization of Badge Hydrolysis Products

Heating a suspension of Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) in 20 : 80 tetrahydrofuran/water at 70°C and subsequent passage of the resulting solution through C18 columns allowed isolation and purification to > 97% of each of the two hydrolysis products 2-[4-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy) phenyl]-2-[4-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)phenyl]propane (1HP) and 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)phenyl] propane (2HP), which were characterized by UV, IR, ₁H and _I3C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.     

Relaxation behavior of aliphatic-aromatic poly(ether amide)s as revealed by dynamic mechanical and dielectric methods

The mechanical and dielectric relaxation of a set of aromatic-aliphatic polyamides containing ether linkages have been examined as a function of temperature (−140 to 190°C) and frequency (3 to 10⁶ Hz). The polymers differ in the orientation (meta and para) of the aromatic rings, in the length of the aliphatic chain, and in the number of ether linkages per repeating unit. Dynamic mechanical experiments showed three main relaxation peaks related to the glass transition temperature of the polymers (α relaxation), the subglass relaxations associated to the absorbed water molecules (β) and to the motion of the aliphatic moieties (γ). Dielectric experiments showed two subglass relaxation processes (β and γ) that correlates with the mechanical β and γ relaxations, and a conduction process (σ) above 50°C that masks the relaxation associated to the glass transition. A molecular interpretation is attempted to explain the position and intensity of the relaxation, studying the influence of the proportion of para- or meta- oriented phenylene rings, the presence of ether linkages and the length of the aliphatic chain. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 457–468, 1997     

Substituent effect of N‐aryl‐N′‐pyridyl ureas as thermal latent initiators on ring‐opening polymerization of epoxide

A series of N‐aryl‐N′‐pyridyl ureas were synthesized by the reactions of 4‐aminopyridine (4AP) with the corresponding isocyanates such as phenyl isocyanate, 4‐methylphenyl isocyanate, 4‐methoxyphenyl isocyanate, 4‐chlorophenyl isocyanate, 4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocyanate, and 4‐nitrophenyl isocyanate. Bulk polymerization of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) in the presence of the ureas as initiators was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. The resulting DSC profiles indicated exothermic peaks above 140 °C, while the DSC profile measured for a formulation composed of DGEBA and pristine 4AP indicated an exothermic peak at around 120 °C, implying that the derivation of 4AP into the corresponding ureas is a useful strategy to achieve thermal latency. The peak top temperatures were correlated with the electron density of the aromatic ring of the ureas, that is, as the electron‐withdrawing nature of the substituent on the aromatic ring became larger, the peak increases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2569–2574     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorine-containing polyamides derived from 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane by direct polycondensation

A fluorine-containing diamine, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (BAPPH) ( II ), was synthesized in two steps on condensation of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate, giving 2,2-bis[4-(4-nitrophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane ( I ), followed by reduction with hydrazine monohydrate/Pd—C. Fluorine-containing polyamides and copolyamides having inherent viscosities 0.41–0.88 dL g⁻¹ were prepared by direct polycondensation of BAPPH with various aromatic diacids or with mixed diacids, by triphenyl phosphite and pyridine in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). The polyamides were examined by elemental analysis, IR spectra, inherent viscosity, x-ray diffraction, solubility, DSC, and TGA. The diffractogram showed that the polyamides were crystalline except IVb , IVc , IVf , and Vc . Almost all polyamides were soluble in polar aprotic solvents. The polymers obtained from BAPPH lost no mass below 350°C, with 10% loss of mass being recorded above 467°C in nitrogen. These aromatic polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the 221–253°C range. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyaryloxydiphenylsilane derived from 2,2′- dimethyl-biphenyl-4,4′-diol

A novel polyaryloxydiphenylsilane was synthesized successfully by solution polycondensation of 2,2′-dimethyl-biphenyl-4,4′-diol with diphenyldichlorosilane and the catalyst triethylamine in toluene at 80 °C. Polymers with a relatively high inherent viscosity and yield were obtained when the reactions were carried out in aromatic and lipophilic solvents. The novel polyaryloxydiphenylsilane was soluble in chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and chloroform as well as in polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and N,N-dimethylacetamide and also in some common organic solvents such as benzene and toluene. However, it was insoluble in both aliphatic hydrocarbons as well as in alcoholic solvents. The polyaryloxydiphenylsilane began losing weight around 400 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere, and the 10% weight-loss temperature was 473 °C. The glass-transition temperature of the polyaryloxydiphenylsilane was 102 °C. The glass transition could be lowered by the copolymerization technique with 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)propane as an aromatic diol comonomer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4591–4595, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing 1,4-naphthalene moieties

The new monomer 2,2-bis[4-(4-{4-fluorobenzoyl}-1-naphthoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) was synthesized in a two-step reaction sequence. 2,2-his[4-(1-naphthoxy)phenyl]-hexafluoropropane ( 1 ) was prepared using the Ullmann ether synthesis reaction of 4,4-(hex-afluoroisopropylidiene)diphenol with 1-bromonaphthalene. Friedel-Crafts acylation of 1 with 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride in methylene chloride containing dimethylsulfone selectively afforded 2 in 82% yield. The polycondensation of 2 with various bisphenols in DMAc in the presence of an excess of potassium carbonate as a condensation reagent was carried out at 165°C to quantitatively afford the corresponding fluorinated poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing 1,4-naphthalene moieties. Thermal analysis of the polymers showed them to have T_gs ranging from 194 to 230°C and to be thermally stable in air up with initial weight losses at about 500°C. In addition, these novel polymers exhibited excellent solubility in organic solvents including NMP, DMAc, and chloroform. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of soluble aromatic polyimides from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl dianhydride and aromatic diamines

Aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride having crank and twisted noncoplanar structure, 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl dianhydride, was synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile with 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and subsequent dehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). Binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl–containing novel aromatic polyimides having inherent viscosities up to 0.67 dL/g were obtained by the one-step polymerization process starting from the bis(ether anhydride) and various aromatic diamines. All the polyimides showed typical amorphous diffraction patterns. Most of the polyimides were readily soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and pyridine. These aromatic polyimides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 280–350°C, depending on the nature of the diamine moiety. All polymers were stable up to 400°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded above 485°C in air. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1937–1943, 1998     

Organosoluble,low dielectric constant and highly transparent fluorinated pyridine-containing poly(ether imide)s derived from new diamine: 4-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-2,6-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]pyridine

A new aromatic diamine, 4-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-2,6-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]pyridine, was synthesized by a modified Chichibabin reaction of 4-(4-nitro-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)acetophenone with 4-triflouromethylbenzaldehyde, followed by catalytic reduction. A series of fluorinated pyridine-containing aromatic poly(ether imide)s (PEIs) were prepared from the diamine monomer with various aromatic dianhydrides via conventional two-step thermal imidization method. The resulting PEIs had inherent viscosities values of 0.68–0.90 dL/g, and could be cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polymer films. These PEIs were predominantly amorphous, had good solubility in common solvents such as NMP, DMAc and m-cresol at room temperature, and displayed excellent thermal stability with the glass transition temperatures of 258–315?°C, the temperatures at 5% weight loss of 550–585?°C, and the residue of higher than 55% at 750?°C in nitrogen. Moreover, the PEIs films showed outstanding mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 74.8–103.5?MPa, tensile moduli of 1.08–1.45?GPa, and elongations at break of 10.6–24.4%. These PEIs also exhibited low dielectric constants of 2.81–2.98 (1?MHz) and water uptake 0.39–0.68%, as well as high optical transparency with the UV cutoff wavelength in the 350–378?nm range and the wavelength of 80% transparency in the range of 412–510?nm.     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyimides from 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl or 2,2′-bis)p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides

New aromatic polyimides containing a biphenyl-2,2′-diyl or 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl unit were prepared by a conventional two-step method starting from 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy) biphenyl or 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. The polyimides having inherent viscosities of 0.69–0.99 and 0.51–0.59 dL/g, respectively, were obtained. Some of these polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridine. Transparent, flexible, and pale yellow to brown films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP polyamic acid solutions. These aromatic polyimides containing biphenyl and binaphthyl units had glass transition temperatures in the range of 200–235 and 286–358°C, respectively. They began to lose weight around 380°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 470°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides from 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy) biphenyl or 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

New aromatic diamines having kink and crank structures, 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl and 2,2′-bis(p-aminophenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl, were synthesized by the reaction of p-fluoronitrobenzene with biphenyl-2,2′-diol and 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, respectively, followed by catalytic reduction. Biphenyl-2,2′-diyl- and 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl-containing aromatic polyamides having inherent viscosities of 0.44–1.18 and 0.26–0.88 dL/g, respectively, were obtained either by the direct polycondensation or low-temperature solution polycondensation of the diamines with aromatic dicarboxylic acids (or diacid chlorides). These polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide, m-cresol, and pyridine. Transparent, pale yellow, and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP solutions. These aromatic polyamides containing biphenyl and binaphthyl units had glass transition temperatures in the range of 215–255 and 266–303°C, respectively. They began to lose weight at ca. 380°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 470°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pulsed NMR study of molecular motion in the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A cured with 4,4′-methylenedianiline

The monomeric diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A cured with methylenedianiline has been studied by pulsed NMR. Values of the proton relaxation times T₁, T_1p, and T₂ have been measured over the temperature range ?160 to 200°C. The system was studied after being fully postcured at 180°C and after being cured at 100°C and at 54°C. The relaxation times are interpreted in terms of molecular motion in the cured resins, i.e., methyl group reorientation, segmental motions, and general molecular motion. The results are compared with those obtained previously by us for the uncured resin. Correlation frequencies for the segmental motions are compared with those obtained from dielectric relaxation and mechanical loss studies. There are at least two principal segmental motions present in the cured system, and the nature of these motions is found to depend on the cure temperature. These effects are discussed in terms of crosslinking and annealing of the system.     

Preparation and properties of aromatic polyamides from 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy) biphenyl or 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl and aromatic diamines

New aromatic dicarboxylic acids having kink and crank structures, 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy) biphenyl and 2,2′-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl, were synthesized by the reaction of p-fluorobenzonitrile with biphenyl-2,2′-diol and 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, respectively, followed by hydrolysis. Biphenyl-2,2′-diyl-and 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl-containing aromatic polyamides having inherent viscosities of 0.58–1.46 dL/g and 0.63–1.30 dL/g, respectively, were obtained by the low-temperature solution polycondensation of the corresponding diacid chlorides with aromatic diamines. These polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide, m-cresol, and pyridine. Transparent, pale yellow, and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the DMAc or NMP solutions. These aromatic polyamides containing biphenyl and binaphthyl units had glass transition temperatures in the range of 210–272 and 260–315°C, respectively. They began to lose weight around 380°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 450°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermostability of polymers containing indanic units in the main chain

The acid-catalyzed stepwise polymerization of 1,1-diphenylethylene derivatives, p-di(1-phenylvinyl) benzene, bis[p-(1-phenylvinyl)phenyl]methane, 1,2-bis[p-(1-phenylvinyl)phenyl]ethane, bis[p-(1-phenylvinyl)phenyl]ether, and bis[p-(1-phenylvinyl)phenyl]sulfide produced selectively indanic-unit-containing polymers in pertinent conditions. Their molecular weights (M?_n) were in the 1600–15, 700 region after the fractionation in hot ethnol. Melting points were in the 214–281°C region. They dissolved fairly well in conventional solvents like benzene, tetrahydrofuran, and carbon tetrachloride. According to TGA they started to decompose at 397–432°C and showed 10% weight loss at 478–502°C in air at a heating rate of 5°C/min. Focusing on the thermostability, we report on their physical properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of an adipic acid–derived epoxy resin

Adipic acid, a highly abundant chemical that can be produced from biomass, was used to prepare an aromatic‐free epoxy resin. Synthesis of the diglycidyl adipate was performed by a one‐step process using epichlorohydrin and by a two‐step process comprising allylation and epoxidation. The viscosity of diglycidyl adipate is 25 mPa·s, which is 99% lower than the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). The storage modulus at 25 °C for cured diglycidyl adipate and DGEBA is 2000 and 3200 MPa, respectively. The alpha transition temperature through peak of the loss modulus and the peak of tan(δ), are 77 °C and 90 °C, respectively. Low‐viscosity epoxy applications are discussed herein. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2625–2631     

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     

High resolution solid‐state 13C‐NMR study of as‐cured and irradiated epoxy resins

This article presents the effects of strong ionizing radiations on the physico‐chemical modifications of aliphatic or aromatic amine‐cured epoxy resins based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Such epoxy resins have a considerable number of applications in the nuclear industrial field and are known to be very stable under moderate irradiation conditions. Using extensively high resolution solid‐state ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy we show that the aliphatic amine‐cured resin (DGEBA‐TETA) appears much more sensitive to gamma rays than the aromatic amine‐cured one (DGEBA‐DDM). On the one hand, qualitative analyses of the high resolution solid‐state ¹³C‐NMR spectra of both epoxy resins, irradiated under similar conditions (8.5 MGy), reveal almost no change in the aromatic amine‐cured resin whereas new resonances are observed for the aliphatic amine‐cured resin. These new peaks were interpreted as the formation of new functional groups such as amides, acids and/or esters and to alkene groups probably formed in the aliphatic amine skeleton. On the other hand, molecular dynamics of these polymers are investigated by measuring the relaxation times, T_CH, T_1ρH and T_1C , before and after irradiation. The study of relaxation data shows the formation, under irradiation, of a more rigid network, especially for the aliphatic amine‐cured system and confirms that aromatic amine‐cured resin [DGEBA‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane(DDM)] is much less affected by ionizing radiations than the aliphatic amine‐cured resin [DGEBA‐triethylenetetramine(TETA)]. Moreover, it has been shown that the molecular modifications generated by irradiation on the powder of the aliphatic‐amine‐cured resin appear to be homogeneously distributed inside the polymers as no phase separations can be deduced from the above analyses. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel insertion reaction of epoxy compounds into phenyl ester linkages in polymer chains

The insertion reaction of various epoxy compounds such as phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE), methyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether (BGE), and styrene oxide into the phenyl ester linkage in the polymer chain was investigated using quaternary ammonium salts as catalysts in diglyme, anisole, sulfolane, o-dichlorobenzene, or DMSO at 100–150°C. The reaction of PGE with poly[4-(4-nitrobenzoyloxy)styrene] (polymer 1a ) proceeded almost quantitatively to give the corresponding polymer using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as catalyst in diglyme at 100°C for 24 h. The reactions of BGE with poly(4-nitrophenyl methacrylate), and copolyarylate derived from 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane and iso- and terephthaloyl chlorides also produced the corresponding polymers with 86 and 89 mol% new structural units, respectively, using TBAB in sulfolane at 150°C for 24 h. Furthermore, it was found that the degree of insertion of the epoxy compound into the ester linkage in the polymer chain was affected by the kind of epoxy compound, reaction solvent, catalyst concentration, substituent group on the phenyl ester, and structure of the polymer. Chiral polymers were also synthesized with high degrees of insertion by the reaction of chiral epoxides such as (R)-1,2-epoxyhexane, (R)-1,2-epoxyheptane, and (R)-1,2-epoxydecane with polymer 1a and poly(2,4-dichlorophenyl methacrylate) using TBAB in diglyme at 120°C for 24 h.     

Synthesis and properties of new aromatic poly‐(ether benzoxazole)s from 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenoxy)biphenyl and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

A new bis(o‐aminophenol) with a crank and twisted noncoplanar structure and ether linkages, 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenoxy)biphenyl, was synthesized by the reaction of 2‐benzyloxy‐4‐fluoronitrobenzene with biphenyl‐2,2′‐diol, followed by reduction. Biphenyl‐2,2′‐diyl‐containing aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s with inherent viscosities of 0.52–1.01 dL/g were obtained by a conventional two‐step procedure involving the polycondensation of the bis(o‐aminophenol) monomer with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides, yielding precursor poly(ether o‐hydroxyamide)s, and subsequent thermal cyclodehydration. These new aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s were soluble in methanesulfonic acid, and some of them dissolved in m‐cresol. The aromatic poly(ether benzoxazole)s had glass‐transition temperatures of 190–251 °C and were stable up to 380 °C in nitrogen, with 10% weight losses being recorded above 520 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2656–2662, 2002     

High refractive index materials: A structural property comparison of sulfide‐ and sulfoxide‐containing polyamides

High‐refractive‐index polyamides (PAs) are developed by incorporation of sulfide‐ or sulfoxide linkages and chlorine substituents. The PAs are synthesized through the polycondensation of two novel diamine monomers, 2,2′‐sulfide‐bis(4‐chloro‐1‐(4‐aminophenoxy) phenyl ether (3a) and 2,2′‐sulfoxide‐bis(4‐chloro‐1‐(4‐aminophenoxy) phenyl ether (3b), with various aromatic diacids (a–e). The ortho‐sulfide or sulfoxide units, pendant chlorine groups, and flexible ether linkages in the diamine monomers endowed the obtained PAs with excellent solubilities in organic solvents. The resulting PAs showed high thermal stability, with 10% weight loss temperatures exceeding 415 °C under nitrogen and 399 °C in air atmosphere. The combination of chlorine substituents, sulfide or sulfoxide linkages, and ortho‐catenated structures provided polymers with high transparency along with high refractive index values of up to 1.7401 at 632.8 nm and low birefringences (<0.0075). The structure–property relationships of the analogous PAs containing sulfide or sulfoxide linkages were also studied in detail by comparing the results. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2867–2877     

Preparation and properties of new soluble aromatic polyimides from 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)biphenyl dianhydride and aromatic diamines

A new aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride having a crank and twisted noncoplannar structure, 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)biphenyl dianhydride, was synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile with biphenyl-2,2′-diol, followed by hydrolysis and cyclodehydration. The biphenyl-2,2′-diyl-containing aromatic polyimides having inherent viscosities up to 0.66 dL/g were obtained by the conventional two-step procedure starting from the dianhydride monomer and various aromatic diamines. Most of the polyimides were readily soluble in amide-type solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The aromatic polyimides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 205–242°C, and began to lose weight around 415°C, with 10% weight loss being recorded at about 500°C in air. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2021–2027, 1998