Laminating resins obtained from 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenedivinylene)bispyridine bismaleimides and maleimide-terminated styrylpyridine prepolymers

A new bismaleimide (2a) , biscitraconimide (2b) , and bisnadimide (4) were synthesized by reacting 2-amino-6-methylpyridine with an equimolar amount of maleic, citraconic, or nadic anhydride, respectively, and then with a half molar amount of 1,4-benzenedicarbaldehyde in the presence of acetic anhydride. They, as well as the intermediate amic acids ( 1a, 1b, and 3 ) were characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The DTA thermograms showed that crosslinking of polymer precursors started at 180–212°C. The crosslinked resins obtained from 2a and 2b were stable up to 300–313°C and afforded anaerobic char yield of 53–60% at 800°C. The cured resin of 4 was less thermostable. In addition, end-capping of styrylpyridine prepolymers was accomplished by reacting 2,6-dimethylpyridine (n mol) with 1,4-benzenedicarbaldehyde (n + 1 mol) in acetic anhydride to yield a formyl-terminated styrylopyridine prepolymer. The latter reacted with the maleamic acid 1a (2 mol) to afford a series of maleimide-terminated styrylpyridine prepolymers MTSOs. They showed lower curing temperatures than did the ordinary poly(styrylpyridine). Their cured resins did not lose weight up to 310–344°C both in N₂ or air and afforded anaerobic char yield of 66-72% at 800°C.     

Soluble aromatic polyamide and polyimides derived from di(aminophenyl) acetylenediurea

New aromatic polyamide and polyimides were prepared from di(aminophenyl)acetylenediurea. In addition, model compounds were synthesized and their IR spectra were in agreement with those of the corresponding polymers. The polymers were amorphous and readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents (DMF, NMP, DMSO) and certain acids (H₂SO₄, CCl₃COOH). The hydrophilicity of polyamide was estimated by measuring the isothermal water absorption. The polyamide softened at 260°C but no softening was observed for polyimides. The glass transition temperatures of polymers were determined by the TMA method and they were in the range of 235–310°C. The polymers were stable up to 359–404°C in N₂ or air and afforded char yields of 53–65% at 800°C in N₂. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polyimides derived from diels-alder polymerization of furfuryl-substituted maleamic acids or from the reaction of bismaleamic with bisfurfurylpyromellitamic acids

Certain AB or AA and BB Diels-Alder polymer precursors bearing maleimide and furan segments were synthesized, characterized, and polymerized. Particularly, the monomaleamic acid derived from 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, reacted with the monofurfurylpyromellitamic acid to yield a triamic acid which was cyclodehydrated to the corresponding triimide. A polyimide was obtained upon heat-curing of triimide or the intermediate triamic acid. In addition, equimolar amounts of N,N'-bismaleimido-4,4'-diphenylmethane (BMDM) and bisfurfurylpyromellitimide or their intermediate diamic acids were cured to afford a polyimide. The polymer precursors were characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and their curing behavior was investigated by DTA. It was shown that the Diels-Alder polymerization of monomers took place at lower temperature than that required for crosslinking of BMDM. The thermal stabilities of polymers were ascertained by TGA and isothermal gravimetric analysis (IGA). The synthesized Diels-Alder polymers were remarkably more heat-resistant than the crosslinked polymer obtained from BMDM or its intermediate bismaleamic acid. They were stable up to about 360°C in N₂ or air and afforded anaerobic char yield of 58% at 800°C. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of new poly(amide–imide)s from 1,4-bis(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)-2-tert-butylbenzene with various diamines

New poly(amide–imide)s were prepared from a diimide–dicarboxylic acid, 1,4-bis(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)-2-tert-butylbenzene ( BTTB ), with various diamines by the direct polycondensation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The new diimide–dicarboxylic acid BTTB containing an ether linkage and tert-butyl substituent was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-2-tert-butylbenzene with trimellitic anhydride. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.62–1.06 dL g⁻¹. The polymers were amorphous, and most of them were readily soluble in aprotic polar solvents such as NMP, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), as well as in less polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), m-cresol, pyridine, and γ-butyrolactone, and also even in tetrahydrofuran. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were determined by DSC method, and they were in the range of 238–279°C. These polymers were stable up to 408–449°C in air and 451–483°C in nitrogen and lose 10% weight in the range of 479–525°C in air and 480–528°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The polymer films had a tensile strength range of 71–115 MPa, an elongation at break range of 4–14%, and a tensile modulus range of 2.3–3.1 GPa. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2301–2307, 1998     

Thermally stable polymers based on bismaleimides containing amide,imide, and ester linkages

Seven new structurally different bismaleimides were synthesized and characterized by infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The chain of these polymer precursors was extended by incorporating amidized, imidized, and esterified 4-chloroformyl phthalic anhydride. The bismaleimides containing amide and imide linkages were prepared by a simple synthetic route based on the reaction of the monomaleamic acid derived from various aromatic diamines (1 mol) with 4-chloroformyl phthalic anhydride (0.5 mol) and subsequent cyclodehydration of the intermediate triamic acid. In addition, chain extended bismaleimides were prepared by reacting the monomaleamic acid derived from p-phenylenediamine with several dianhydrides such as p-phenylene bis(trimellitamide anhydride), p-phenylene bis(trimellitate anhydride), and bis-phenol A bis(trimellitate anhydride). The differential thermal analysis scans of bismaleimides showed exotherms at 221–304°C associated with their polymerization reactions. The thermogravimetric analysis traces of polymers did not show a weight loss up to 351–393 and 344–372°C in N₂ and air atmospheres, respectively. The anaerobic char yield of polymers at 800°C was 44–61%. These polymers can be used for fabrication of composites having improved properties.     

Synthesis and diels–alder polymerization of furfurylidene and furfuryl-substituted maleamic acids

The reactions of monomaleamic acid derived from an aromatic diamine with furfural afforded a novel class of furfurylidene-substituted maleamic acids 2a–2d . The latter were cyclodehydrated to yield maleimides 3a–3d which are AB-monomers for a Diels–Alder polymerization. In addition, N-furfurylmaleamic acid ( 4 ) was synthesized by reacting furfurylamine with maleic anhydride at ambient temperature. Cyclodehydration of 4 afforded N-furfurylmaleimide ( 5 ). The polymer precursors were characterized by IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Their curing behavior was investigated by DTA and correlated with chemical structures. Diels–Alder polymerization of monomers occurred at the temperature range of 113–210°C. Thermal stability of monomers was evaluated by TGA and isothermal gravimetric analysis (IGA). It was shown that thermal stability of the polymer derived from maleamic acid 4 was dramatically improved upon curing at high temperatures due to the formation by dehydration of a stable aromatic structure.     

Synthesis and properties of new polyamides derived from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene and aromatic dicarboxylic acids

The diamine 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene, containing symmetric, bulky di-tert-butyl substituents and a flexible ether unit, was synthesized and used to prepare a series of polyamides by the direct polycondensation with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.32–1.27 dL g⁻¹. Most of these polyamides, except II _a , II _d , and II _e , showed an amorphous nature and dissolved in polar solvents and less polar solvents. Polyamides derived from 4,4′-sulfonyldibenzoic acid, 4,4′-(hexafluoro-isopropylidene)dibenzoic acid, and 5-nitroisophthalic acid were even soluble in a common organic solvent such as THF. Most polyamide films could be obtained by casting from their N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solutions. The polyamide films had a tensile strength range of 49–78 MPa, an elongation range at break of 3–5%, and a tensile modulus range of 1.57–2.01 GPa. These polyamides had glass transition temperatures ranging between 253 and 276°C, and 10% mass loss temperatures were recorded in the range 402–466°C in nitrogen atmosphere. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1069–1074, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic poly(ether sulfone imide)s derived from sulfonyl bis(ether anhydride)s and aromatic diamines

Two sulfonyl group-containing bis(ether anhydride)s, 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(1,4-phenylene)dioxy]diphthalic anhydride ( IV ) and 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)dioxy]diphthalic anhydride (Me- IV ), were prepared in three steps starting from the nucleophilic nitrodisplacement reaction of the bisphenolate ions of 4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol and 4,4′-sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethylphenol) with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). High-molar-mass aromatic poly(ether sulfone imide)s were synthesized via a conventional two-stage procedure from the bis(ether anhydride)s and various aromatic diamines. The inherent viscosities of the intermediate poly(ether sulfone amic acid)s were in the ranges of 0.30–0.47 dL/g for those from IV and 0.64–1.34 dL/g for those from Me- IV. After thermal imidization, the resulting two series of poly(ether sulfone imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.25–0.49 and 0.39–1.19 dL/g, respectively. Most of the polyimides showed distinct glass transitions on their differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, and their glass transition temperatures (T_g) were recorded between 223–253 and 252–288°C, respectively. The results of thermogravimetry (TG) revealed that all the poly(ether sulfone imide)s showed no significant weight loss before 400°C. The methyl-substituted polymers showed higher T_g's but lower initial decomposition temperatures and less solubility compared to the corresponding unsubstituted polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1649–1656, 1998     

New poly(amide-imide)s syntheses. VII. Preparation and properties of poly(amide-imide)s derived from 1,5-bis(4-aminophenoxy) naphthalene,trimellitic anhydride,and various aromatic diamines

New bis(phenoxy)naphthalene-containing poly(amide-imide)s having an inherent viscosity in the range of 0.62–1.09 dL/g were prepared by the direct polycondensation of 1,5-bis(4-trimellitimidophenoxy) naphthalene ( I ) and various aromatic diamines using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in the presence of calcium chloride. The diimide-diacid (I) was prepared by the condensation of 1,5-bis(4-aminophenoxy) naphthalene and trimellitic anhydride. Most of the polymers were soluble in aprotic solvents such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and afforded transparent, flexible and tough films upon casting from DMAc solutions. Measurements of wide-angle X-ray diffraction revealed that those polymers containing p-phenylene or oxyphenylene groups were characterized as crystalline polymers. Tensile strength and initial moduli of the polymer films ranged from 61–86 MPa and 1.83–2.21 GPa, respectively. Glass transition temperatures of the polymers were in the range of 231–340°C. The melting points of the crystalline polymers ranged from 375–430°C. The 10% weight loss temperatures were above 512°C in nitrogen and 481°C in air. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of aromatic polyamide-imides from N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted aromatic diamines and 4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride

The polymerization of N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted aromatic diamines with 4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride in various solvents at a temperature range between 10 and 70°C afforded polyamide-amic acid trimethylsilyl esters having inherent viscosities of 0.8–1.4 dL/g. Transparent and flexible films of the silylated precursor polymers were obtained by casting directly from the polymer solutions. Desilylation of the silylated polymers with methanol resulted in the formation of the corresponding polyamide-amic acids. Subsequent thermal imidization of the silylated precursor polymers with the elimination of trimethylsilanol afforded yellow, transparent, and tough films of the aromatic polyamide-imides. The thermal conversion of the silylated precursor polymer to polyamide-imide proceeded almost as rapidly as that of the corresponding polyamide-amic acid prepared by a conventional method from the parent aromatic diamine and 4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride.     

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     

NOTE: Synthesis and Characterization of a Poly(acrylamide) with Pendant 1,4-piperazine-2,5-dione Moieties via Post-polymerization Cyclization

A poly(acrylamide) was synthesized from N ^α -Boc-N ^? -acrolyl-l-lysylglycine methyl ester via radical polymerization. This polymer typically had Mn ～ 100,000 g/mol, Mw ～ 300,000 g/mol, and a T_g of 93°C. Removal of Boc with TFA and cyclization with DABCO? in DMSO at 65°C afforded a soluble piperazinedione-containing polymer that had a T_g of 157°C and thermal stability up to 300°C. These results demonstrate a viable and efficient synthetic route to piperazinedione-containing polyacrylamides of high molecular weight. Related polymers that incorporate substituted indane moieties could be useful high T_g materials for fabrication of LC and NLO devices.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyamide‐imides containing noncoplanar 2,2′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐biphenylene unit

A new diimide‐dicarboxylic acid, 2,2′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bis(4‐trimellitimidophenoxy)biphenyl (DBTPB), containing a noncoplanar 2,2′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐biphenylene unit was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 2,2′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bis(4‐minophenoxy)biphenyl (DBAPB) with trimellitic anhydride in glacial acetic acid. A series of new polyamide‐imides were prepared by direct polycondensation of DBAPB and various aromatic diamines in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP), using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The polymers were produced with high yield and moderate to high inherent viscosities of 0.86–1.33 dL · g⁻¹. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffractograms revealed that the polymers were amorphous. Most of the polymers exhibited good solubility and could be readily dissolved in various solvents such as NMP, N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide, pyridine, cyclohexanone, and tetrahydrofuran. These polyamide‐imides had glass‐transition temperatures between 224–302 °C and 10% weight loss temperatures in the range of 501–563 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. The tough polymer films, obtained by casting from DMAc solution, had a tensile strength range of 93–115 MPa and a tensile modulus range of 2.0–2.3 GPa. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 63–70, 2001     

High-strength fire- and heat-resistant imide resins containing cyclotriphosphazene and hexafluoroisopropylidene groups

High-strength fire- and heat-resistant polymers were obtained by the thermally induced melt-polymerization of maleimido-phenoxy cyclotriphosphazenes linked by hexafluoroisopropyliden-ediphthalimide groups. These polymers show good thermal stability and high char yields: 78–80% at 800°C in nitrogen and 60–68% in air at 700°C. Graphite-fabric laminates did not burn in pure oxygen, even at 300°C (LOI = 100%), and were tested for shear, flexural, and tensile strengths. Two monomers were synthesized by reacting tris(4-aminophenoxy)-tris(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene with maleic anhydride and hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride. The triamine was synthesized by a stepwise reaction of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene with phenol and 4-nitrophenol to give tris(4-nitrophenoxy)-tris(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene and reducing the nitro groups. The structures of cyclic phosphazene-trimeric precursors and the polymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ³¹P-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The curing behaviors of polymer precursors were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses.     

Bismaleimides and bisnadimides derived from 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-3,4-diphenylthiophene and their polymerization to heat-resistant matrix resins

Six new structurally different bismaleimides or bisnadimides based on 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-3,4-diphenylthiophene (BADT) were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy. Chain-extension of several bismaleimides was accomplished by incorporating various imide, amide, and urea groups. The bismaleimide and bisnadimide prepared by reacting BADT with maleic or nadic anhydride, respectively, were soluble in various organic solvents. The monomers were thermally polymerized or by a Michael reaction with certain aromatic diamines. Curing behavior was investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The thermal and thermo-oxidative stability of polymers was evaluated by dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and isothermal gravimetric analysis (IGA). The polymers derived from bismaleimide of BADT as well as from the bismaleimides chain-extended by imide groups were stable up to 355–392°C in N₂ or air and afforded anaerobic char yield 66–74% at 800°C. The polymers obtained by curing the bismaleimide-diamine adducts showed a relatively lower thermal stability.     

Syntheses and radical polymerization behavior of novel optically active methacrylamides having (L)-leucine structure in the side chains

Syntheses and radical polymerizations of methacrylamides having (L)-leucine and N-methyl-(L)-leucine methyl ester structures in the side chains N-methacryloyl-(L)-leucine methyl ester (MA-L-M) and N-methyl-N-methacryloyl-(L)-leucine methyl ester (N-Me-MA-L-M) were carried out. The monomers were prepared by the reactions of methacryloyl chloride with the corresponding amino acid methyl esters. Radical polymerizations were carried out in the presence of appropriate initiators at 60°C and 120°C. MA-L-M afforded the corresponding polymer with M_ns 38,000 ∼ 372,000 in high yields, while N-Me-MA-L-M afforded a trace amount of polymer at 60°C and in a low yield even at 120°C. Both inversion and increase of absolute value of specific rotation were observed in the transformation from MA-L-M (+1.3°C) to poly(MA-L-M) (−35.7°C). Changes in the CD spectral pattern and the conformation of the leucine moiety were confirmed from the monomer to polymer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2681–2690, 1998     

New P‐type of poly(4‐methoxy‐triphenylamine)s derived by coupling reactions: Synthesis,electrochromic behaviors,and hole mobility

Methoxy‐substituted poly(triphenylamine)s, poly‐4‐methoxytriphenylamine ( PMOTPA ), and poly‐N,N‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐N′,N′‐diphenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine ( PMOPD ), were synthesized from the nickel‐catalyzed Yamamoto and oxidative coupling reaction with FeCl₃. All synthesized polymers could be well characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. These polymers possess good solubility in common organic solvent, thermal stability with relatively high glass‐transition temperatures (T_gs) in the range of 152–273 °C, 10% weight‐loss temperature in excess of 480 °C, and char yield at 800 °C higher than 79% under a nitrogen atmosphere. They were amorphous and showed bluish green light (430–487 nm) fluorescence with quantum efficiency up to 45–62% in NMP solution. The hole‐transporting and electrochromic properties are examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. All polymers exhibited reversible oxidation redox peaks and E_onset around 0.44–0.69 V versus Ag/AgCl and electrochromic characteristics with a color change under various applied potentials. The series of PMOTPA and PMOPD also showed p‐type characteristics, and the estimated hole mobility of O ‐ PMOTPA and Y ‐ PMOPD were up to 1.5 × 10^?4 and 5.6 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively. The FET results indicate that the molecular weight, annealing temperature, and polymer structure could crucially affect the charge transporting ability. This study suggests that triphenylamine‐containing conjugated polymer is a multifunctional material for various optoelectronic device applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4037–4050, 2009     

High temperature phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated laminating resins based on maleimido-substituted aromatic s-triazines

Several new phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated maleimide or nadimide systems containing s-triazine rings were synthesized. Their synthesis was accomplished by simple methods utilizing readily available and relatively inexpensive starting materials. All polymer precursors were characterized by infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy. They were thermally polymerized to heat-resistant laminating resins. Thermal characterization of monomers and their cured resins was achieved using differential thermal analysis (DTA), dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and isothermal gravimetric analysis (IGA). The cured resins were stable up to 304–330°C both in nitrogen and air atmospheres and formed anaerobic char yield 49–59% at 800°C. The phosphorylated polymers showed a lower temperature of initial weight loss but afforded higher anaerobic char yield than did the corresponding nonphosphorylated polymers. The thermal properties of the polymers were correlated with their chemical structure.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic poly(ether ketone)s containing cyclotriphosphazene units

Bis(4-oxybenzoic acid) tetrakis(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene (IUPAC name: 4-[4-(carboxyphenoxy)-2,4,6,6-tetraphenoxy-1,3,5,2λ⁵,4λ⁵,6λ⁵-triazatriphosphinin-2-yl]oxy-benzoic acid) was synthesized and direct polycondensed with diphenylether or 1,4-diphenoxybenzene in Eaton's reagent at the temperature range of 80–120°C for 3 hours to give aromatic poly(ether ketone)s. Polycondensations at 120°C gave polymer of high molecular weight. Incorporation of cyclotriphosphazene groups in the aromatic poly(ether ketone) backbone greatly enhanced the solubility of these polymers in common organic polar solvents. Thermal stabilities by TGA for two polymer samples of polymer series ranged from 390 to 354°C in nitrogen at 10% weight loss and glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranged from 81.4 to 89.6°C by DSC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1227–1232, 1998     

Fire- and heat-resistant matrix resins based on ethynyl-substituted aromatic cyclotriphosphazenes

A novel class of fire- and heat-resistant matrix resins has been synthesized by thermal polymerization of ethynyl-substituted aromatic cyclotriphosphazenes. Thermal polymerization of new tris[4-(4′-ethynylbenzanilido)phenoxy]tris(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene ( III ) and tris[4-(4′-ethynylphthalimido)phenoxy]tris(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene ( VII ) at 250°C for 1–1.5 h gave tough polymers. The thermal stabilities of the polymers were evaluated in nitrogen and in air by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The synthesised polymers were stable to 400–410°C and showed char yield of 78–65% at 800°C in nitrogen and of 78–69% at 700°C in air. The ethynyl-substituted polymer precursor ( III ) was synthesised by the reaction of tris(4-aminophenoxy)tris(phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene ( I ) with 4-ethynylbenzoyl chloride. The polymer precursor ( VII ) was synthesised by a solution condensation of I with 4-ethynylphthalic anhydride followed by in situ thermal cyclodehydration at 150°C. The structure of polymer precursors was characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The curing of polymer precursors was monitored by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and IR spectroscopy. The synthesised matrix resins are potential candidates for the development of heat- and fire-resistant fiber-reinforced composites. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.