| Abstract: | Two synthetic routes were used for the preparation of aromatic poly(ether ketones): Friedel-Crafts acylation and aromatic nucleophilic substitution. The first route involved the reaction of diphenyl ether and terephthalic acid dichloride in trifluoromethane-sulfonic acid. The addition of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride or phosphorus pentoxide resulted in increased molecular weights. The second synthetic route involved the synthesis of an amorphous tert -butyl-substituted poly(ether ketone) prepolymer. Subsequently, the tert -butyl groups were removed by a reversed Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction yielding the crystalline polymer PEEK. The dealkylation reaction was performed in trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The addition of a tert -butyl group acceptor resulted in high dealkylation conversions. |
