Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated polyimides based on 2,7‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)naphthalene

A new trifluoromethyl‐substituted bis(ether amine) monomer, 2,7‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)naphthalene, was synthesized. It led to a series of novel fluorinated polyimides by thermal and chemical imidization routes when reacted with various commercially available aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. Most of the polyimides obtained from both routes were soluble in many organic solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide. All the polyimides could afford transparent, flexible, and strong films with low moisture absorptions of 0.3–0.6%, low dielectric constants of 2.52–3.27 at 10 kHz, and an ultraviolet–visible absorption cutoff wavelength at 377–436 nm. The glass‐transition temperatures of the polyimides were in the range of 244–297 °C, and the 5% weight‐loss temperatures were higher than 550 °C. For a comparative study, a series of analogous polyimides based on 2,7‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)naphthalene were also prepared and characterized. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2001–2018, 2003     

Novel,organosoluble, light‐colored fluorinated polyimides based on 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl or 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl

Two series of fluorinated polyimides were prepared from 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl ( 2 ) and 2,2′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl ( 4 ) with various aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional, two‐step procedure that included a ring‐opening polyaddition to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by chemical or thermal cyclodehydration. The inherent viscosities of the polyimides ranged from 0.54 to 0.73 and 0.19 to 0.36 dL/g, respectively. All the fluorinated polyimides were soluble in many polar organic solvents, such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide and N‐methylpyrrolidone, and afforded transparent and light‐colored films via solution‐casting. These polyimides showed glass‐transition temperatures in the ranges of 222–280 and 257–351 °C by DSC, softening temperatures in the range of 264–301 °C by thermomechanical analysis, and a decomposition temperature for 10% weight loss above 520 °C both in nitrogen and air atmospheres. The polyimides had low moisture absorptions of 0.23–0.58%, low dielectric constants of 2.84–3.61 at 10 kHz, and an ultraviolet–visible absorption cutoff wavelength at 351–434 nm. Copolyimides derived from the same dianhydrides with an equimolar mixture of 4,4′‐oxydianiline and diamine 2 or 4 were also prepared and characterized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2416–2431, 2004     

Preparation and properties of new polyimides and polyamides based on 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)naphthalene

A novel, trifluoromethyl‐substituted, bis(ether amine) monomer, 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)naphthalene, was synthesized through the nucleophilic displacement of 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride with 1,4‐dihydroxynaphthalene in the presence of potassium carbonate in dimethyl sulfoxide, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C in ethanol. A series of new fluorine‐containing polyimides with inherent viscosities of 0.57–0.91 dL/g were prepared by reacting the diamine with six commercially available aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional, two‐step thermal or chemical imidization method. Most of the resulting polyimides were soluble in strong polar solvents such as N‐methylpyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). All the polyimides afforded transparent, flexible, and strong films with good tensile properties. These polyimides exhibited glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) (by DSC) and softening temperatures (by thermomechanical analysis) in the ranges of 252–315 and 254–301 °C, respectively. Decomposition temperatures for 5% weight loss all occurred above 500 °C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. The dielectric constants of these polyimides ranged from 3.03 to 3.71 at 1 MHz. In addition, a series of new, fluorinated polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.32–0.62 dL/g were prepared by the direct polycondensation reaction the diamine with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids by means of triphenyl phosphite and pyridine. All the polyamides were soluble in polar solvents such as DMAc and could be solution‐cast into tough and flexible films. These polyamides had T_g's between 228 and 256 °C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures above 400 °C in nitrogen or air. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2377–2394, 2004     

Organosoluble and light‐colored fluorinated polyimides from 4,4′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl and aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated diamine monomer based on 4,4′‐biphenol was synthesized via a straightforward, high‐yielding two‐step procedure. 4,4′‐Biphenol was reacted with 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride in the presence of potassium carbonate to yield the intermediate dinitro compound, which was subsequently reduced to afford the fluorinated diamine, 4,4′‐bis(4‐amino‐3‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)biphenyl. A series of organosoluble fluorinated polyimides were prepared from the diamine with various aromatic dianhydrides via a conventional two‐step thermal imidization method. All polyimides were soluble in strong dipolar solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide. The polyimides showed excellent thermal and thermooxidative stability and good mechanical properties. No significant weight loss was observed below a temperature of 520 °C in nitrogen or in air, and the glass‐transition temperatures ranged from 247 to 313 °C. Low dielectric constants (2.57–3.65 at 10 kHz), low moisture absorption (0.1–0.7 wt %), and low color intensity were also observed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 524–534, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10113     

Highly organosoluble and flexible polyimides with color lightness and transparency based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(2‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐aminophenoxy)‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl]propane

A new diamine containing isopropylidene, methyl substituted arylene ether, and trifluoromethyl groups, 2,2‐bis[4‐(2‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐aminophenoxy)‐3,5‐dimethylphenyl]propane (BTADP), was synthesized and used in preparation of a series of polyimides by direct polycondensation with various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides in N, N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). All polymers derived from diamine (BTADP) with trifluoromethyl substituents were highly organosoluble in the solvents, like N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dichloromethane, cyclohexanone, and γ‐butyrolactone at room temperature or upon heating at 70 °C. Inherent viscosities of the polyimides were found to range between 0.58 and 0.97 dL·g^?1. These polyimides had glass transition temperatures between 256 and 307 °C, and their 10% mass loss temperatures ranged from 440 to 462 °C and 421 to 443 °C under nitrogen and air, respectively. These polyimides had low dielectric constants in the range of 2.84–3.09. All the polyimides could be cast into films from DMAc solutions and were thermally converted into color lightness, optically transparent, flexible, and tough polyimides. The polyimide films had a tensile strength in the range of 83–97 MPa and a tensile modulus in the range of 2.0–2.2 GPa. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5766–5774, 2004     

Polyimides based on 2,5‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)biphenyl

A diamine monomer II , 2,5‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)biphenyl, was prepared through a nucleophilic substitution reaction of phenylhydroquinone and p‐chloronitrobenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N‐dimethylformamide, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. A series of all‐aromatic, organosoluble polyimides bearing pendent phenyl groups were synthesized from the diamine with six kinds of commercial dianhydrides via a conventional two‐stage process. For improving solubility of polypyromellitimide, copolypyromellitimides with arbitrary solubilities were prepared from II and a pair of dianhydrides, which were mixed at certain molar ratios. These polymers showed good solubilities in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and m‐cresol. The softening temperatures of these polyimides were recorded between 206 and 269 °C. Polymers had glass‐transition temperatures at 230–286 °C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures above 521 °C in air or nitrogen atmospheres. Their films had high tensile moduli and strengths. Excellent properties of these polyimides are attributed to the incorporation of the pendent phenyl group in diamine II . © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 429–438, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10116     

Synthesis and properties of fluorinated polyimides based on 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene and various aromatic dianhydrides

A novel fluorinated diamine monomer, 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene ( 2 ), was prepared through the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride and 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone in the presence of potassium carbonate, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Fluorinated polyimides ( 5a – 5f ) were synthesized from diamine 2 and various aromatic dianhydrides ( 3a – 3f ) via thermal or chemical imidization. These polymers had inherent viscosities of 0.77–1.01 dL/g. The 5 series polyimides were soluble in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and N,N‐dimethylformamide and were even soluble in dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, and dichloromethane. 5 (C) showed cutoff wavelengths between 363 and 404 nm and yellowness index (b*) values of 6.5–40.2. The polyimide films had tensile strengths of 93–114 MPa, elongations to break of 9–12%, and initial moduli of 1.7–2.1 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures were 255–288 °C. The temperatures of 10% weight loss were all above 460 °C in air or nitrogen atmospheres. In comparison with a nonfluorinated polyimide series based on 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐2,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzene, the 5 series showed better solubility and lower color intensity, dielectric constants, and moisture absorption. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2272–2284, 2004     

Synthesis and properties of new aromatic polyimides based on 2,5‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐tert‐butylbenzene and various aromatic dianhydrides

A novel, fluorinated diamine monomer, 2,5‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐ trifluoromethylphenoxy)‐tert‐butylbenzene ( II ) was synthesized through the nucleophilic substitution reaction of tert‐butylhydroquinone (t‐BHQ) and 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride in the presence of potassium carbonate to yield the intermediate dinitro compound I , followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C to afford diamine II . A series of fluorinated polyimides V were prepared from II with various aromatic dianhydrides ( III _a–f ) via the thermal imidization of poly(amic acid). Most of V _a–f could be soluble in amide‐type solvents and even in less polar solvents. These polyimide films showed tensile strengths up to 106 MPa, elongation at break up to 21%, and initial modulus up to 2.1 GPa. The glass‐transition temperature of V was recorded at 245–304 °C, the 10% weight loss temperatures were above 488 °C, and left more than 41% residue even at 800 °C in nitrogen. Low dielectric constants, low moisture absorptions, and higher and light‐colored transmittances were also observed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5424–5438, 2004     

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 polyimides from bis(3‐aminophenyl)‐4‐(1‐adamantyl)phenoxyphenyl phosphine oxide

A novel diamine, bis(3‐aminophenyl)‐4‐(1‐adamantyl)phenoxyphenyl phosphine oxide (mDAATPPO), was synthesized via the Williamson ether reaction of 4‐(1‐adamantyl)phenol and bis(3‐nitrophenyl)‐4‐fluorophenyl phosphine oxide, followed by reduction. The phenol group was prepared by the Friedel–Crafts reaction of 1‐bromoadamantane and phenol, whereas the phosphine oxide group was synthesized by the Grignard reaction of 1‐bromo‐4‐fluorobezene and diphenyl phosphinic chloride, followed by nitration. The monomer and its intermediate compounds were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and melting‐point apparatus. The monomer was then used to prepare polyimides with 2,2‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride, and pyromellitic dianhydride by the conventional two‐step synthesis: the preparation of poly(amic acid) followed by solution imidization. The molecular weights of the polyimides were controlled to 20,000 g/mol by off‐stoichiometry, and the synthesized polyimides were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, NMR, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the solubility, intrinsic viscosity, dielectric constant, and birefringence of the polyimides were evaluated. Novel polyimides with mDAATPPO exhibited good solubility, high glass‐transition temperatures (290–330 °C), excellent thermal stability (>500 °C), low dielectric constants (2.77–3.01), low refractive indices, and low birefringence values (0.0019–0.0030). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2567–2578, 2006     

Synthesis of highly refractive polyimides derived from 3,6‐bis(4‐aminophenylenesulfanyl)pyridazine and 4,6‐bis(4‐aminophenylenesulfanyl)pyrimidine

A series of aromatic polyimides (PIs) containing pyridazine or pyrimidine in their main chains has been developed. All of the PIs were prepared from newly synthesized diamines, 3,6‐bis(4‐aminophenylenesulfanyl)pyridazine (APP), 4,6‐bis(4‐aminophenylenesulfanyl)pyrimidine (APPM) and aromatic dianhydrides, 4,4′‐[p‐thiobis(phenylenesulfanyl)]diphthalic anhydride (3SDEA) and 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) via the conventional two‐step polycondensation. The PIs showed good thermal stability with 10% weight loss at temperatures above 450 °C and glass transition temperatures above 190 °C. Films with a 10‐μm thickness exhibited good optical transparency above 80% at 500 nm, high refractive indices ranging from 1.7218 to 1.7499, and low birefringence between 0.0066 and 0.0102. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4886–4984, 2009     

Synthesis and properties of alternating copolyamide‐imides based on 2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)naphthalene and comparison with its related isomeric polymers

A series of novel polyamide‐imides III containing 2,6‐bis(phenoxy)naphthalene units were synthesized by 2,6‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)naphthalene and various bis(trimellitimide)s in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents through direct polycondensation. The polymers were obtained in quantitative yield with inherent viscosities up to 1.53 dL/g. Most of the polymers showed good solubility in NMP, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, N,N‐dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide and could be solution‐cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films. The films had tensile strengths of 84–111 MPa, elongations at break of 8–33%, and initial moduli of 2.2–2.8 GPa. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction revealed that most polymers III were amorphous. The glass‐transition temperatures of some of the polymers could be determined by differential scanning calorimetry traces, recorded at 247–290 °C. The polyamide‐imides exhibited excellent thermal stabilities and had 10% weight loss at temperatures in the range of 501–575 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. They left more than 57% residue even at 800 °C in nitrogen. A comparative study of some corresponding polyamide‐imides is also presented. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2591–2601, 2001     

Comparative study on polyimides from isomeric 3,3′‐, 3,4′‐, and 4,4′‐linked bis(thioether anhydride)s

Three isomeric bis(thioether anhydride) monomers, 4,4′‐bis(2,3‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,3′‐PTPKDA), 4,4′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (4,4′‐PTPKDA), and 4‐(2,3‐dicarboxyphenylthio)‐4′‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylthio) diphenyl ketone dianhydride (3,4′‐PTPKDA), were prepared through multistep reactions. Their structures were determined via Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and elemental analysis. Three series of polyimides (PIs) were prepared from the obtained isomeric dianhydrides and aromatic diamines in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) via the conventional two‐step method. The PIs showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and NMP. Their glass‐transition temperatures decreased according to the order of PIs on the basis of 3,3′‐PTPKDA, 3,4′‐PTPKDA, and 4,4′‐PTPKDA. The 5% weight loss temperatures (T_5%) of all PIs in nitrogen were observed at 504–519 °C. The rheological properties of isomeric PI resins based on 3,3′‐PTPKDA/4,4′‐oxydianiline/phthalic anhydride showed lower complex viscosity and better melt stability compared with the corresponding isomers from 4,4′‐ and 3,4′‐PTPKDA. In addition, the PI films based on three isomeric dianhydrides and 2,2′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine had a low moisture absorption of 0.27–0.35%. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

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     

Preparation and properties of new poly(amide‐imide)s based on 1,4‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)naphthalene and aromatic diamines

A diimide dicarboxylic acid, 1,4‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)naphthalene (1,4‐BTMPN), was prepared by condensation of 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)naphthalene and trimellitic anhydride at a 1 : 2 molar ratio. A series of novel poly(amide‐imide)s (IIa–k) with inherent viscosities of 0.72 to 1.59 dL/g were prepared by triphenyl phosphite‐activated polycondensation from the diimide‐diacid 1,4‐BTMPN with various aromatic diamines (Ia–k) in a medium consisting of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP), pyridine, and calcium chloride. The poly(amide‐imide)s showed good solubility in NMP, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and N,N‐dimethylformamide. The thermal properties of the obtained poly(amide‐imide)s were examined with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis. The synthesized poly(amide‐imide)s possessed glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 215 to 263°C. The poly(amide‐imide)s exhibited excellent thermal stabilities and had 10% weight losses at temperatures in the range of 538 to 569°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. A comparative study of some corresponding poly(amide‐imide)s also is presented. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1–8, 2000     

Preparation and properties of molecular‐weight‐controlled polyimides derived from 1,4‐bis(4′‐amino‐2′‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene and 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride

A series of molecular‐weight‐controlled fluorinated aromatic polyimides were synthesized through the polycondensation of a fluorinated aromatic diamine, 1,4‐bis(4′‐amino‐2′‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene, with 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride in the presence of phthalic anhydride as the molecular‐weight‐controlling and end‐capping agent. Experimental results demonstrated that the resulting polyimides could melt at temperatures of 250–300 °C to give high flowing molten fluids, which were suitable for melt molding to give strong and flexible polyimide sheets. Moreover, the aromatic polyimides also showed good solubility both in polar aprotic solvents and in common solvents. Polyimide solutions with solid concentrations higher than 25 wt % could be prepared with relatively low viscosity and were stable in storage at the ambient temperature. High‐quality polyimide films could be prepared via the casting of the polyimide solutions onto glass plates, followed by baking at a relatively low temperature. The molten behaviors and organosolubility of the molecular‐weight‐controlled aromatic polyimides depended significantly on the polymer molecular weights. Both the melt‐molded polyimide sheets and the solution‐cast polymer films exhibited outstanding combined mechanical and thermal properties. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1997–2006, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of ortho‐linked aromatic polyimides based on 1,2‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐4‐tert‐butylbenzene

A bis(ether amine) containing the ortho‐substituted phenylene unit and pendant tert‐butyl group, 1,2‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐4‐tert‐butylbenzene, was synthesized and used as a monomer to prepare polyimides with six commercial dianhydrides via a conventional two‐stage procedure. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.78–1.44 dL/g, and most of them could be thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polyimides were in the range of 0.46–0.87 dL/g. All polyimides were noncrystalline, and most of them showed excellent solubility in polar organic solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polyimides were in the range of 222–259 °C in differential scanning calorimetry and 212–282 °C in thermomechanicl analysis. These polyimides showed no appreciable decomposition up to 500 °C in thermogravimetric analysis in air or nitrogen. A comparative study of the properties with the corresponding polyimides without pendant tert‐butyl groups derived from 1,2‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene is also presented. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1551–1559, 2000     

Effects of diamines and their fluorinated groups on the color lightness and preparation of organosoluble aromatic polyimides from 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]‐hexafluoropropane

To investigate the position and amount of the CF₃ group affecting the coloration of polyimides (PIs), we prepared 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane ( 2 ) with four CF₃ groups with 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride and 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenol)hexafluoropropane. A series of soluble and light‐colored fluorinated PIs ( 5 ) were synthesized from 2 and various aromatic dianhydrides ( 3a – 3f ). 5a – 5f had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.80 to 1.19 dL/g and were soluble in amide polar solvents and even in less polar solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures of 5 were 221–265 °C, and the 10% weight‐loss temperatures were above 493 °C. Their films had cutoff wavelengths between 343 and 390 nm, b* values (a yellowness index) ranging from 5 to 41, dielectric constants of 2.68–3.01 (1 MHz), and moisture absorptions of 0.03–0.29 wt %. In a comparison of the PI series 6 – 8 based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane, 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]propane, and 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, we found that the CF₃ group close to the imide group was more effective in lowering the color; this means that CF₃ of 5 , 7 , and 8f was more effective than that of 6c . The color intensity of the four PI series was lowered in the following order: 5 > 7 > 6 > 8 . The PI 5f , synthesized from diamine 2 and 4,4′‐hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride, had six CF₃ groups in a repeated segment, so it exhibited the lightest color among the four series. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 922–938, 2003     

Synthesis and properties of polyimides derived from 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐2‐(6‐oxido‐6H‐dibenz[c,e] [1,2]oxaphosphorin‐6‐yl) phenylene

A new phosphorus‐containing aromatic diamine, 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐2‐(6‐oxido‐6H‐dibenz[c,e] [1,2]oxaphosphorin‐6‐yl) phenylene ( 3 ) was synthesized by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 2‐(6‐oxido‐6H‐dibenz[c,e] [1,2]oxaphosphorin‐6‐yl)‐1,4‐dihydroxy phenylene ( 1 ) with 4‐fluoronitrobenzene, followed by catalytic hydrogenation. Light color, flexible, and creasable polyimides with high molecular weight, high glass transition, high thermal stability, improved organosolubility, and good oxygen plasma resistance were synthesized from the condensation of ( 3 ) with various aromatic dianhydrides in N,N‐dimethylacetamide, followed by thermal imidization. The number‐average molecular weights of polyimides are in the range of 7.0–8.3 × 10⁴ g/mol, and the weight‐average molecular weights are in the range of 12.5–16.5 × 10⁴ g/mol. The T_gs of these polyimides range from 230 to 304 °C by differential scanning calorimetry and from 228 to 305 °C by DMA. These polyimides are tough and flexible, with tensile strength at around 100 MPa. The degradation temperatures (T_d 5%) and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen range from 544 to 597 °C and 59–65 wt %, respectively. Polyimides 5c and 5e , derived from OPDA and 6FDA, respectively, with the cutoff wavelength of 347 and 342 μm, respectively, show very light color. These polyimides also exhibit good oxygen plasma resistance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2897–2912, 2007     

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