Synthesis and characterization of soluble polyimides derived from 2′,5′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)‐p‐terphenyl dianhydride

A novel bis(ether anhydride) monomer, 2′,5′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)‐p‐terphenyl dianhydride, was synthesized from the nitro displacement of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile by the phenoxide ion of 2′,5′‐dihydroxy‐p‐terphenyl, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and cyclodehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). A series of new poly(ether imide)s bearing laterally attached p‐terphenyl groups were prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) with various aromatic diamines via a conventional two‐stage process that included ring‐opening polyaddition to form the poly(amic acid)s followed by thermal or chemical imidization to the poly(ether imide)s. The inherent viscosities of the poly(amic acid) precursors were in the range of 0.62–1.26 dL/g. Most of the poly(ether imide)s obtained from both routes were soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide. All the poly(ether imide)s could afford transparent, flexible, and strong films with high tensile strengths. The glass‐transition temperatures of these poly(ether imide)s were recorded as between 214 and 276 °C by DSC. The softening temperatures of all the poly(ether imide) films stayed in the 207–265 °C range according to thermomechanical analysis. For all the polymers significant decomposition did not occur below 500 °C in nitrogen or air atmosphere. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1008–1017, 2004     

Synthesis and properties of soluble trifluoromethyl‐substituted polyimides containing laterally attached p‐Terphenyls

A new fluorinated diamine monomer, 2′,5′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐p‐terphenyl, was synthesized from the chloro‐displacement of 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride with the potassium phenolate of 2,5‐diphenylhydroquinone, followed by hydrazine palladium‐catalyzed reduction. A series of trifluoromethyl‐substituted polyimides containing flexible ether linkages and laterally attached side rods were synthesized from the diamine with various aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional two‐step process. The inherent viscosities of the poly(amic acid) precursors were 0.84–1.26 dL/g. All the polyimides afforded flexible and tough films. The use of 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride and 2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride produced essentially colorless polyimide films. Most of the polyimides revealed an excellent solubility in many organic solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polyimides were recorded between 254 and 299 °C by differential scanning calorimetry, and the softening temperatures of the polymer films stayed in the range of 253–300 °C according to thermomechanical analysis. The polyimides did not show significant decomposition before 500 °C in air or under nitrogen. These polyimides also showed low dielectric constants (2.83–3.34 at 1 MHz) and low moisture absorption (0.4–2.2%). For a comparative study, a series of analogous polyimides based on the nonfluorinated diamine 2′,5′‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐p‐terphenyl were also prepared and characterized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1255–1271, 2004     

Syntheses and properties of polyamides from ether diacid having the spirobichroman unit

A novel hexamethylspirobichroman (HMSBC) unit-containing dicarboxylic acid, 6,6′-bis(4-carboxyphenoxy)-4,4,4′,4′,7,7′-hexamethyl-2,2′-spirobichroman ( 3 ), was derived from nucleophilic substitution of p-fluorobenzonitrile with the phenolate ion of 6,6′-dihydroxy-4,4,4′,4′,7,7′-hexamethyl-2,2′-spirobichroman ( 1 ), followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether nitrile). Using TPP and pyridine as condensing agents, a series of polyamides with inherent viscosities in the range of 0.82–1.14 dL/g were prepared by the direct polycondensation of dicarboxylic acid 3 with various aromatic diamines. All the obtained polymers were noncrystalline and soluble in various organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Except for the polymer derived from benzidine, the other polyamides could be solution cast into transparent and tough films, and their tensile strengths, elongations at break, and tensile moduli were in the range of 56–76 MPa, 4–59%, and 1.6–2.0 GPa, respectively. These polyamides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 183–200°C with 10% weight loss above 420°C. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1479–1486, 1997     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamides based on a benzonorbornane bis(ether carboxylic acid)

A set of new aromatic polyamides containing ether and benzonorbornane units were synthesized by the direct phosphorylation polycondensation of 3,6‐bis(4‐carboxyphenoxy)benzonorbornane with various aromatic diamines. The polymers were produced in high yields and moderate to high inherent viscosities (0.64–1.70 dL/g). The polyamides derived from rigid diamines such as p‐phenylenediamine and benzidine were semicrystalline and insoluble in organic solvents. The other polyamides were amorphous and organosoluble and afforded flexible and tough films via solution casting. These films exhibited good mechanical properties, with tensile strengths of 95–101 MPa, elongations at break of 13–25%, and initial moduli of 1.97–2.33 GPa. The amorphous polyamides showed glass‐transition temperatures between 176 and 212 °C (by differential scanning calorimetry) and softening temperatures between 194 and 213 °C (by thermomechanical analysis). Most of the polymers did not show significant weight loss before 450 °C in nitrogen or in air. Some properties of these polyamides were also compared with those of homologous counterparts without the pendent norbornane groups. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 947–957, 2002     

New organo‐soluble aromatic polyimides based on 3,3′,5,5′‐tetrabromo‐2,2‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride and aromatic diamines

New aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride, having isopropylidene and bromo‐substituted arylene ether structure 3,3′,5,5′‐tetrabromo‐2,2‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, was synthesized by the reaction of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile with 3,3′,5,5′‐tetrabromobisphenol A, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile) and subsequent dehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). The novel aromatic polyetherimides having inherent viscosities up to 1.04 dL g⁻¹ were obtained by either a one‐step or a conventional two‐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), pyridine, and even in less polar solvents like chloroform and tetrahydrofuran (THF). These aromatic polyimides had glass transition temperatures in the range of 256–303°C, depending on the nature of the diamine moiety. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that all polymers were stable, with 10% weight loss recorded above 470°C in nitrogen. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1673–1680, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of new organosoluble polyamides derived from bis[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy) phenyl]diphenylmethane

A new dicarboxylic acid containing a diphenylmethylene linkage, bis[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]diphenylmethane (BCAPD), was prepared from bis(4‐hydroxphenyl)diphenylmethane and p‐fluorobenzonitrile via an aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction followed by hydrolysis. A series of novel polyamides were prepared by the direct polycondensation of BCAPD and various aromatic diamines. The polymers were produced with moderate to high inherent viscosities of 0.80–0.85 dL g^?1. Nearly all the polymers were readily soluble in polar solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide, in less polar solvents such as pyridine and cyclohexanone, and in tetrahydrofuran. All the polymers were amorphous, and the polyamide films had a tensile strength and a tensile modulus greater than 80 MPa and 2.0 GPa, respectively. These polyamides had glass‐transition temperatures between 249 and 274 °C, and their temperatures at a 10% weight loss were 477–538 and 483–540 °C in nitrogen and air atmospheres, respectively. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1156–1161, 2001     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of semifluorinated organo‐soluble new aromatic polyamides

A series of organo‐soluble new polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of different semifluorinated aromatic diamines, namely 4,4‐bis[3'‐trifluoromethyl‐4'(4“‐amino benzoxy)benzyl]biphenyl; 4,4”‐bis(aminophenoxy)‐3'3“‐trifluoromethyl terphenyl; 1,3‐bis[3'‐trifluoromethyl‐4'(4”‐amino benzoxy)benzyl]benzene; 2,6‐bis(3'‐trifluoromethyl‐p‐aminobiphenyl ether)pyridine; and 2,5‐bis(3'‐trifluoromethyl‐p‐aminobiphenyl ether)thiophene with 5‐t‐butyl‐isophthalic acid. The polymers were fully characterized by elemental analysis and IR, NMR spectroscopies. The synthesized polyamides were soluble in several organic solvents such as 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N‐dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethyl sulfoxide at room temperature. They showed inherent viscosities of 0.42–0.63 dl/g. The polyamides exhibited weight‐average molecular weights of up to 233,000, which depended on the exact repeating unit structure. The polyamides synthesized from 4,4‐bis[3'‐trifluoromethyl‐4'(4”‐amino benzoxy)benzyl]biphenyl and 5‐t‐butyl isophthalic acid exhibited highest glass‐transition temperatures 261°C (evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry) in nitrogen. These polyamides showed good thermal stability up to 475°C for a 10% weight loss in air. The polyamides films were clear and flexible in nature with tensile strengths of up to 88 MPa, modulus of elasticity of up to 1.81 GPa, and elongations at break of up to 25%, which depended on the exact repeating unit structure. X‐ray diffraction measurements indicated that these polyamides were amorphous in nature. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of organosoluble ditrifluoromethylated aromatic polyimides

Two novel diamine monomers, 1,4‐bis (4‐aminophenoxy)‐2‐[(3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzene and 1,4‐bis [2′‐cyano‐3′(4″‐amino phenoxy)phenoxy]‐2‐[(3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethyl)phenyl] benzene, were synthesized from (3,5‐ditrifluoromethyl)phenylhydroquinone. A series of ditrifluoromethylated aromatic polyimides derived from the diamines were prepared through a typical two‐step polymerization method. These polyimides had a high thermal stability, and the temperatures at 10% weight loss were above 507 °C in nitrogen. Most of the polymers showed good solubility in anhydrated 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide, chloroform, and tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. All the polymers formed transparent, strong, and flexible films with tensile strengths of 63.6–95.8 MPa, elongations at break of 5–10%, and Young's moduli of 2.38–2.96 GPa. The dielectric constants estimated from the average refractive indices are 2.69–2.89. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3018–3029, 2005     

Preparation and characterization of aromatic polyamides based on a bis(ether‐carboxylic acid) or a dietheramine extended from 1,1‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐phenylethane

Thermoplastic and organic‐soluble aromatic polyamides containing both bulky triphenylethane units and flexible ether linkages were prepared directly from 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]‐1‐phenylethane ( III ) with various aromatic diamines or from 1,1‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]‐1‐phenylethane ( V ) with various aromatic dicarboxylic diacids via triphenyl phosphite and pyridine. These polyamides had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.71 to 1.77 dL/g. All the polymers easily were dissolved in aprotic polar solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and some even could be dissolved in less polar solvents such as tetrahydrofuran. The flexible and tough films cast from the polymer solutions possessed tensile strengths of 89 to 104 MPa. The polyamides were thermally stable up to 460°C in air or nitrogen. Glass‐transition temperatures of these polyamides were observed in a range of 179 to 268°C via differential scanning calorimetry or thermomechanical analysis. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 247–260, 2000     

Synthesis and chirooptical properties of optically active poly(ester imide)s based on axially asymmetric 1,1′‐binaphthyls

A series of optically active poly(ester imide)s (PEsI's) has been synthesized by the polycondensation reactions of new axially asymmetric dianhydrides, that is, (R)‐2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxybenzoyloxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl dianhydride and (S)‐2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxybenzoyloxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl dianhydride, and various diamines with aromatic, semiaromatic, and aliphatic structures. The polymers have inherent viscosities of 0.45–0.70 dL/g, very good solubility in common organic solvents, glass‐transition temperatures of 124–290 °C, and good thermal stability. Wide‐angle X‐ray crystallography of these polymers shows no crystal diffraction. In comparison with model compounds, an enhanced optical rotatory power has been observed for the repeat unit of optically active PEsI's based on aromatic diamines, and it has been attributed to a collaborative asymmetric perturbation of chiral 1,1′‐binaphthyls along the rigid backbones. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4318–4326, 2004     

Synthesis of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)‐ and poly(phenylene ethynylene)‐based polymers containing p‐terphenyl in the main chain with alkoxyphenyl side groups

Starting from the pyrylium salt and following a facile synthetic route, we synthesized and polymerized 4,4″‐diiodo‐2′,6′‐di[4‐(2′‐ethylhexyl)oxy]phenyl‐p‐terphenyl with p‐divinylbenzene or p‐diethynylbenzene. The resulting polymers had moderate molecular weights, were amorphous, and dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, with glass‐transition temperatures of 120–131 °C. The polymers behaved as violet‐blue‐emitting materials with photoluminescence maxima around 420 and 450 nm in solution and in thin films, respectively. They possessed well‐defined chromophores resulting from steric interactions in the polymer chain. The photoluminescence quantum yields were up to 0.29. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2591–2600, 2002     

Poly‐Schiff bases. V. Synthesis and characterization of novel soluble fluorine‐containing polyether azomethines

A new dialdehyde monomer, 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidine) bis(p‐phenoxy) benzaldehyde, was prepared; it led to a number of novel poly‐Schiff bases in reactions with different diamines, such as 4,4′‐diaminidiphenyl ether, 4,4′‐(isopropylidine) bis(p‐phenoxy) dianiline, 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidine) bis(p‐phenoxy) dianiline, and benzidine. The polymers were characterized with viscosity measurements, nitrogen analyses, and IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. These poly‐Schiff bases showed good thermal stability up to 491 °C for 10% weight loss in thermogravimetric analysis under air and high glass‐transition temperatures up to 215 °C in differential scanning calorimetry. These polymers were soluble in a wide range of organic solvents, such as CHCl₃, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide, and 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidon (NMP), and were insoluble in toluene and acetone. Thin films of these polymers cast from DMF exhibited tensile strengths up to 38 MPa. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 383–388, 2001     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble cardo polyamides containing the tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane group

A new cardo dicarboxylic acid, 8,8‐bis[4‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)phenyl]tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decane (BCPTD), was synthesized from 4,4′‐(octahydro‐4,7‐methano‐5H‐inden‐5‐ylidene)bisphenol and p‐fluorobenzonitrile via aromatic nucleophilic substitution followed by hydrolysis. A series of new cardo polyamides was prepared by the direct polycondensation of BCPTD and various aromatic diamines in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) with triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as the condensing agents. Polymers were produced with moderate to high inherent viscosities of 0.65 to 1.08 dL g⁻¹. The polymers, except for polymer PA1 , exhibited number‐average molecular weights and weight‐average molecular weights in the range of 38,400 to 86,300 and 57,800 to 148,000, respectively. Nearly all of the polymers were readily soluble in polar solvents such as NMP, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide as well as in less polar solvents such as pyridine, γ‐butyrolactone, and tetrahydrofuran. All of the polymers were amorphous, and the polyamide films had a tensile‐strength range of 75 to 128 MPa and a tensile‐modulus range of 2.0 to 2.8 GPa. These polyamides had glass‐transition temperatures between 240 and 269°C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures in the range of 477 to 508°C and 471 to 518°C in nitrogen and air atmospheres, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 74–79, 2000     

Soluble aromatic poly(ether amide)s containing aryl‐, alkyl‐, and chloro‐substituted phthalazinone segments

A series of novel aromatic diamines ( 2 – 4 ) containing the alkyl‐, aryl, or chloro‐substituted group of phthalazinone segments were synthesized via two synthetic steps starting from 4‐(3‐R‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐phthalazinone‐1 (R = Ph, CH₃, Cl). Three series of aromatic polyamides containing phthalazinone moieties were prepared through diamines 2 – 4 reacting with different aromatic dicarboxylic acids via a direct Yamazaki–Higashi phosphorylation polycondensation reaction. The resulting aromatic polyamides had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.40–0.76 dL/g. The thermal property of the polyamides was examined with DSC and thermogravimetric analysis. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polyamides ranged from 298 to 340 °C. The 10% mass‐loss temperature was above 405 °C under nitrogen. Structures of monomers 2 – 4 and the polymers were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, and mass spectrometry. Good solubility of these polymers in polar solvents such as N‐methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and m‐cresol was observed, and tough, flexible films were obtained from the polymer's DMAc solutions. The effect of the substituted group on the physical property of polymers was also investigated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2026–2030, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of new highly organosoluble poly(ether imide)s based on 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride

A new bis(ether anhydride), 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride ( 3 ), was prepared in three steps: the nitro displacement of 4‐nitrophthalonitrile with 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl)propane, the alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether dinitrile), and the subsequent dehydration of the resulting bis(ether diacid). A series of new highly soluble poly(ether imide)s with tetramethyl and isopropylidene groups were prepared from the bis(ether anhydride) 3 with various diamines by a conventional two‐stage synthesis including polyaddition and chemical cyclodehydration. The resulting poly(ether imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.54–0.73 dL g^?1. Gel permeation chromatography measurements revealed that the polymers had number‐average and weight‐average molecular weights of up to 54,000 and 124,000, respectively. All the polymers showed typical amorphous diffraction patterns. All of the poly(ether imide)s showed excellent solubility and were readily dissolved in various solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide, pyridine, cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran, and even chloroform. Most of the polymers could be dissolved with chloroform concentrations as high as 30 wt %. These polymers had glass‐transition temperatures of 244–282 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that all polymers were stable, with 10% weight losses recorded above 463 °C in nitrogen. These transparent, tough, and flexible polymer films were obtained through solution casting from N,N‐dimethylacetamide solutions. These polymer films had tensile strengths of 81–102 MPa and tensile moduli of 1.8–2.0 GPa. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2556–2563, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of highly refractive polyimides derived from fluorene‐bridged sulfur‐containing dianhydrides and diamines

Highly refractive and transparent polyimides (PIs) based on fluorene‐bridged and sulfur‐containing monomers have been developed. An aromatic dianhydride, 4,4′‐[p‐thiobis(phenylenesulfanyl)]diphthalic anhydride (3SDEA), was polymerized with several fluorene‐containing diamines, including commercially available 9,9′‐bis(p‐aminophenyl)fluorene (APF), 9,9′‐bis[4‐(p‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]fluorene (OAPF), and newly synthesized 9,9′‐bis[4‐(p‐aminophenyl)sulfanylphenyl]fluorene (ASPF) to afford series A PIs. Meanwhile, series B PIs were obtained from a new dianhydride, 4,4′‐[(9H‐fluorene‐9‐ylidene)bis(p‐phenylsulfanyl)]diphthalic anhydride (FPSP) and two aromatic diamines, ASPF and 4,4′‐thiobis[(p‐phenylenesulfanyl)aniline] (3SDA) via a two‐step polycondensation procedure. The PIs exhibit good thermal stabilities, such as relatively high glass transition temperatures in the range of 220–270 °C and high initial thermal decomposition temperatures (T_10%) exceeding 490 °C. The 9,9′‐disubstituted fluorene moieties endow the PI films with good optical transparency. The optical transmittances of the PI films at 450 nm are all higher than 80% for the thickness of about 10 μm. Furthermore, the highly aromatic fluorene moiety and flexible thioether linkages in the molecular chains of the PIs provide them with high refractive indices of 1.6951–1.7258 and small birefringence of 0.0056–0.0070. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1510–1520, 2008     

Rigid‐rod polyamides and polyimides prepared from 4,3″‐diamino‐2′,6′‐di(2‐naphthyl)‐p‐terphenyl and 2′,6′,3‴,5‴‐tetra(2‐naphthyl)‐4,4″‐diamino‐p‐quinquephenyl

A series of rigid‐rod polyamides and polyimides containing p‐terphenyl or p‐quinquephenyl moieties in backbone as well as naphthyl pendent groups were synthesized from two new aromatic diamines. The polymers were characterized by inherent viscosity, elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, X‐ray, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), isothermal gravimetric analysis, and moisture absorption. All polymers were amorphous and displayed T_g values at 304–337°C. Polyamides dissolved upon heating in polar aprotic solvents containing LiCl as well as CCl₃COOH, whereas polyimides were partially soluble in these solvents. No weight loss was observed up to 377–422°C in N₂ and 355–397°C in air. The anaerobic char yields were 57–69% at 800°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 15–24, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated polyimides derived from 4,4′‐[2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl)ethylidene]diphthalic anhydride and aromatic diamines

A novel fluorinated aromatic dianhydride, 4,4′‐[2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(3‐trifluoromethyl‐phenyl)ethylidene]diphthalic anhydride (TFDA) was synthesized by coupling of 3′‐trifluoromethyl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroacetophenone with o‐xylene under the catalysis of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, followed by oxidation of KMnO₄ and dehydration. A series of fluorinated aromatic polyimides derived from the novel fluorinated aromatic dianhydride TFDA with various aromatic diamines, such as p‐phenylenediamine (p‐PDA), 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA), 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene (p‐APB), 1,3‐bis(4‐amino‐phenoxy)benzene (m‐APB), 4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)‐3‐trifluoromethylphenylamine (3FODA) and 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene (6FAPB), were prepared by polycondensation procedure. All the fluorinated polyimides were soluble in many polar organic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF, and m‐cresol, as well as some of low boiling point organic solvents such as CHCl₃, THF, and acetone. Homogeneous and stable polyimide solutions with solid content as high as 35–40 wt % could be achieved, which were prepared by strong and flexible polyimide films or coatings. The polymer films have good thermal stability with the glass transition temperature of 232–322 °C, the temperature at 5% weight loss of 500–530 °C in nitrogen, and have outstanding mechanical properties with the tensile strengths of 80.5–133.2 MPa as well as elongations at breakage of 7.1–12.6%. It was also found that the polyimide films derived from TFDA and fluorinated aromatic diamines possess low dielectric constants of 2.75–3.02, a low dissipation factor in the range of 1.27–4.50 × 10^?3, and low moisture absorptions <1.3%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4143–4152, 2004     

New electroactive and electrochromic aromatic polyamides with ether‐linked bis(triphenylamine) units

A new class of electroactive polyamides with ether‐linked bis(triphenylamine) [O(TPA)₂] units were prepared through the direct phosphorylation polycondensation from N,N‐di(4‐aminophenyl)‐N′,N′‐diphenyl‐4,4′‐oxydianiline and aromatic dicarboxylic acids. These polyamides were amorphous with good solubility in many organic solvents, such as NMP and DMAc, and could be solution‐cast into strong and flexible polymer films. Their decomposition temperatures (T_d) at a 10% weight‐loss in nitrogen and air were recorded at 556–568 °C and 537–555 °C, respectively. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) of all the polyamides were observed in the range of 218?253 °C by DSC. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide films cast onto an indium‐tin oxide (ITO)‐coated glass substrate exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at 0.80–0.82 V and 0.96–0.98 V versus Ag/AgCl in an electrolyte containing acetonitrile solution. The polyamide films showed excellent electrochemical and electrochromic stability, with a color change from a colorless or pale yellowish neutral form to green and purple oxidized forms at applied potentials ranging from 0 to 1.2 V. These polymers can also be used to fabricate electrochromic devices, and they showed high coloration efficiency, high redox stability, and fast response time. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 496–510     

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