Polybenzopinacols. I. Photolytic coupling of aromatic diketones

Low molecular weight polybenzopinacols were obtained by the photolytic coupling of m- and p-dibenzoylbenzene and 4,4′-dibenzoyldiphenyl ether in isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran–isopropanol, benzene–isopropanol, and benzene–ethanol solutions. The polypinacols were soluble in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, ether, and benzene. The inherent viscosities ranged from 0.06 to 0.14. Average molecular weight (M?_n) data indicated that the polymers were mostly dimers and trimers.     

Photopolymerization via the Paterno-Büchi reaction. II. Reaction of aromatic diketones with furans

Attempts to photopolymerize 1:1 mixtures of furan and aromatic diketones of the benzophenone type by irradiation of benzene solutions at 350 nm were unsuccessful. An alternative route via furan-diketone 2:1 adducts was more successful but was complicated by the intervention of hydrogen abstraction reactions in competition with oxetane formation, leading to crosslinking and insolubilization in some cases.     

Molecular aggregation of solid aromatic polymers. II. Mechanical properties of aromatic polyimide film

Molecular aggregation of the aromatic polyimide poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide) is influenced by the initial imidization temperature and by cold drawing. The effect of molecular aggregation in polyimides on their mechanical properties has been investigated. The density of a polyimide in which molecular aggregation gives an amorphous state is increased slightly by cold drawing. On the other hand, if molecular aggregation leads to a heterogeneous two-phase structure, the density is decreased by cold drawing. With increasing initial imidization temperature, the α absorption peak in dynamic tensile measurements becomes broader and smaller, and shifts to a higher temperature. From analysis of correlations between molecular aggregation and mechanical properties, it is concluded that the mode of molecular motion corresponding to the α dispersion in polyimide is a long-range cooperative motion of the main chain which is associated with the glass transition.     

High molecular weight aromatic polymers by nickel coupling of aryl polychlorides

This paper describes a totally new method for the formation of high molecular weight aromatic polymers. High molecular weight polyarylethersulfones are produced by nickel catalyzed coupling of aryl dichloride monomers. Metallic zinc is used to drive the polymerization reaction which takes place under relatively mild conditions in the presence of triphenylphosphine and a dipolar aprotic solvent. The versatility of the reaction is demonstrated, as well as the ability to provide a variety of high temperature polymers from readily available and inexpensive monomers. It is possible to use an integrated two-step process to produce aryl dichlorides from inexpensive aryl chlorides, and then to couple these directly to polymer without need for isolation and purification. This process resulted from a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and the use of statistically designed experiments to identify the important reaction parameters and to optimize the degree of polymerization.     

Amine-promoted cyclocondensation of highly substituted aromatic nitrile oxides with diketones

Base-promoted cyclocondensation of hindered nitrile oxides and cyclic diketones affords highly functionalized, sterically-encumbered isoxazole products in good yield. The mild reaction conditions (NEt₃, EtOH) are tolerant to a wide variety of functionality and permit the preparation of precursors to complex polycycles typically inaccessible via direct, intermolecular carboncarbon bond forming reactions. The ability to effect the cyclocondensation reaction with a catalytic amount of amine points to the intermediacy of an ammonium enolate as a key reactive species. A convenient, single step preparation of crystalline, stable nitrile oxides from the corresponding oximes enhances the advantages of this methodology for the preparation of functionalized polycycles.     

Photopolymerization via the Paterno-Büchi reaction. I. Reaction of aromatic diketones with tetramethylallene

Aromatic diketones of the benzophenone type undergo photopolymerization on irradiation at 350 nm with tetramethylallene in benzene solution. The polymers produced contain oxetane units in the main chain, and spectroscopic analysis demonstrates that the distribution of structural units parallels that found in the reaction between benzophenone and tetramethylallene. The polymers are rapidly degraded thermally and by mineral acids.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic polymers containing pendant silyl groups. II. Aromatic polyamides

In order to improve the solubility of aromatic polyamides without significant loss of thermal stability, synthesis of aromatic polyamides containing pendant silyl groups was carried out by direct polycondensation of silylated aromatic diacids such as 2-trimethylsilylterephthalic acid (TSTA), 2,5-bis (trimethylsilyl) terephthalic acid (BTSTA), 5-trimethylsilylisophthalic acid (TSIA), 5-dimethylphenylsilylisophthalic acid (DMSIA), and 5-triphenylsilylisophthalic acid (TPSIA) with various aromatic diamines. The resulting polyamides had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.18–1.10 dL/g and showed improved solubilities toward aprotic polar solvents such as NMP, DMF, DMSO, etc. The prepared aromatic polyamides exhibited fairly good thermal stabilities, which were almost comparable to those of corresponding nonsubstituted aromatic polyamides. That is, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data revealed 10% weight losses at 358–500°C and residual weights at 700°C were 46–67% under nitrogen atmosphere. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

New high-temperature polymers. II. Ordered aromatic copolyamides containing fused and multiple ring systems

Symmetrical diamines, containing preformed carbonamide linkages, were prepared by reacting nitrobenzoyl chlorides with aromatic diamines and reducing the dinitro intermediates. The diamines were polymerized with aromatic diacid chlorides to give wholly aromatic ordered copolyamides of exceptionally high thermal stability. Ordered diamines were prepared containing only phenylene units as the aromatic portion, and others containing phenylene and naphthylene or biphenylene groups. Low-temperature solution polymerization of these diamines with isophthaloyl chloride, 4,4′-bibenzoyl chloride, or 2,6-naphthalenedicarbonyl chloride, gave thirteen ordered copolyamides, each containing a naphthylene and/or biphenylene group in its repeating unit. Differential thermal analyses and thermogravimetric analyses showed these polymers to have melting points or decomposition temperatures of from 420 to over 500°C. Films of one of the polymers had a breakdown voltage of 3000 v./mil at 180°C. Fibers of the same composition had tenacities of up to 8 g/den.; a 5.5 g/den. sample retained 85% of its tenacity after 17 hr. at 300°C. and 21% after 9 days.     

Photochemistry of polymeric systems. II. Photocrosslinking of polymers and copolymers containing various aromatic N-oxide groups

2-Methyl-5-vinylpyridine-N-oxide, 4-vinylquinoline-N-oxide. 9-vinylacridine-N-oxide, p-N,N-dimethylaminostyrene-N-oxide units were introduced in polymeric chains as homopolymers or/and as styrene copolymers to study their photocrosslinking. The method used for characterization of photocrosslinked films was a “photoresist test” described in Part I of this series. The photosensitivity of the different chromophores bound to the different polymer has also been studied by UV, IR, and fluorescence spectrophotometries. The use of aromatic amine N-oxide groups in polymers seems to be a general means to produce their photocrosslinking by radical reactions. Among the different polymeric materials prepared, 4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide and 4-vinylquinoline-N-oxide are the most photosensitive.     

Optically active hydrocarbon polymers with aromatic side chains. II. Poly-(S)-p-sec-butylstyrene

The synthesis of optically active p-sec-butylstyrene (I) has been carried out starting with (S)-2-phenylbutane (II) having optical purity 88–91%. The optical purity of I thus obtained was found to be 73–75%. The polymerization of I with stereospecific coordinated anionic catalysts gave amorphous polymers, as in the case of many other p-substituted styrene derivatives. The fractions obtained from these polymers have very similar rotatory power at 589 nm which is practically equal to that of polymer of I obtained by nonstereospecific radical initiator and of low molecular weight structural models. Accordingly the ¹L_b electronic transition of the aromatic chromophore shows a very low rotatory strength in all samples examined. This result is related to the lack in solution of conformations with a predominant single chirality of the main chain of the macromolecules derived from I.     

Perfluorocyclobutane aromatic ether polymers. II. Thermal/ oxidative stability and decomposition of a thermoset polymer

The results of thermal and oxidative stability studies are reported for one perfluorocyclo-butane aromatic ether thermoset polymer. The polymer was prepared from 1,1,1-tris (4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)ethane by the thermal cyclodimerization of the trifluorovinyl either functionality, resulting in a network polymer comprising alternating perfluorocy-clobutane and aromatic either groups. The results of isothermal and dynamic thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) studies are reported with kinetic approximations for de-composition in nitrogen, along with FTIR studies of the oxidative process in air and TGA/mass spec determination of the gasses evolved from decomposition in air. Based on these results, thermal and oxidative decomposition mechanisms are proposed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Long-range tin-tin coupling constants: II. Two-bond coupling via carbon

Tin-119 and carbon-13 NMR data for a total of 34 compounds containing the grouping Sn-C-Sn (C is either sp³- or sp²-hybridised) are presented and discussed. In organotin derivatives of alkanes, ²J(Sn-C-Sn) can only be correlated with ¹J(Sn-C₂) if a sign change for the former coupling is assumed. In most of the compounds of this type studied, ¹J(Sn-CH₃) is, due to rehybridisation and in contrast to the usual situation, larger than ¹J(Sn-C²); the same is true in some cases for distannylakenes, the behaviour of which is complicated by changes in the torsional angle about the carbon-carbon double bond. Thus correlation of ²J(Sn-C-Sn) with other spectral parameters is not possible in these cases. The total tin chemical shift range for compounds MeⁿSn(CH₂MME₃)_4-n (M  C, Si, Ge, Sn; n  0–4) is 140 ppm. Incorporation of a ditin fragment in a six-membered ring causes a downfield tin shift of 30 ppm.     

Studies on coordination polymers : Part II. Coordination polymers of 1,6-dihydroxyphenazine

Coordination polymers of 1, 6-dihydroxyphenazine (I) with Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni (II), Co(II) and Hg(II) were prepared and studied. All the polymers formed were dark blue to black powders, very insoluble in the common solvents, apparently of low molecular weight, and decomposed at temperatures ranging from 200 to 280°. The zinc polymer was the most stable, mercury the least. Infrared studies confirmed the proposed chelation reaction between the metal ion and (I). The polymers of Co and Hg were amorphous, whereas those of Cu, Zn, and Ni were crystalline. When used as a spot test reagent, (I) gave instant color reactions with 15 common ions but neither the sensitivity nor selectivity of the reagent is impressive.     

Photophysics of vinyl aromatic polymers

The experimental approaches required to characterize energy migration and excimer formation in vinyl aromatic polymers are considered. As an example the photophysical processes occurring in poly(acenaphthylene) (PACE) and water soluble acenaphthylene copolymers have been investigated using steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Excimer formation in these polymers is determined by both structural and dynamic factors. The difficulties in the application of fluorescence decay analyses to examine energy migration in polymers are discussed. For PACE with a 9-methylanthryl (9MA) end-group and the copolymers containing solubilized 9MA, energy migration and transfer can be demonstrated.     

New aromatic benzazole polymers. I. Benzobisthiazole and benzobisoxazole polymers with main-chain triarylamino units

Thermally stable, nonrigid-rod poly(benzobisthiazoles), (R)TPA-PBZT , where R = H, Me, NMe₂, and OH, and poly(benzobisoxazoles), (R)TPA-PBO , where R = Me, NMe₂ containing electron-rich triarylamine groups with various para-substituents (Rs) on the pendent phenyl ring, were synthesized from either 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride or 2,4-diamino-1,5-benzenediol dihydrochloride and the respective triarylamine-based dinitrile or diacid monomer in polyphosphoric acid. Whereas (R)TPA-PBZT polymers were obtained in moderate molecular weights, analogous (R)TPA-PBO polymers were only prepared in low molecular weights. No lyotropic behaviors, characteristic of the unmodified rigid-rod benzazole polymers, as evidenced by the absence of either stir opalescence or birefringence under crosspolarizers, were observed for these homopolymers at about 10 wt % polymer concentration. Among these polymers, only (Me)TPA-PBZT and (NMe₂)TPA-PBZT formed cast films with good mechanical integrity. In their pristine state, their film conductivity values were in the range of 10⁻¹⁰–10⁻⁹ S/cm at room temperature. Upon exposure to iodine vapor, their conductivities were increased to the maximal values of 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm ( (Me)TPA-PBZT ) and 4.1 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm ( (NMe₂)TPA-PBZT ). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1909–1924, 1997     

Chemorheology of linear polymers. II

The chemical stress relaxation of crosslinked polymers had long been studied. The chemorheology of linear polymers is difficult to study because molecular flow by diffusion is generally much more rapid than relaxation or flow caused by chemical reaction. Our previous paper dealt with the chemorheology of linear polymers on taking such physical flow into consideration. By using another modified expression suggested by Tobolsky, good consistency between the theoretical chemical stress relaxation curve and an experimental one was obtained for polydisperse polystyrene and the commercial polystyrene used.     

Molecular aggregation of solid aromatic polymers. I. Small-angle x-ray scattering from aromatic polyimide film

Molecular aggregation in a commercial polyimide film, Du Pont Kapton, was investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). From the analysis of the desmeared SAXS curve, it is concluded that aggregation in the Kapton film can be elucidated in terms of a two-phase structure having electron density fluctuations within the phases. For comparison with the molecular aggregation in Kapton, molecular aggregation in polyimides synthesized in our laboratory was also investigated. It was found in this case that molecular aggregation is controlled by the initial imidization temperature. Molecular aggregation of polyamic acid and polyimide cyclized at a low temperature gives amorphous structures. On the other hand, molecular aggregation of polyimide cyclized at high temperatures gives two-phase structures like that of Kapton film. The SAXS curve for a polyimide having the two-phase structure shows a peak due to interference between ordered regions. The two-phase structure of the polyimide can be explained in terms of a one-dimensional model. The more ordered phase is produced at the higher initial imidization temperature. The relative density difference between two phases is only a few percent for polyimide films cyclized at high temperatures. This result shows that the two-phase structure of aromatic polyimide differs essentially from that of ordinary crystalline polymers.     

Molecular aggregation of solid aromatic polymers. III. Small-angle X-ray scattering from aromatic polyamideimide film

Molecular aggregation in polytrimellitamideimide (PAI) was investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). PAI films annealed above the glass transition temperature show a scattering peak characteristic of two-phase structure. A one-dimensional model was used to analyze these SAXS curves. The more ordered phases are produced at higher annealing temperature. The average thickness of the ordered lamellae is comparable with the repeating length of the main chain. The relative difference of electron density between two phases is only a few percent, which shows that the two-phase structure of PAI, like that of aromatic polyimide, differs essentially from that of ordinary crystalline polymers.