Synthesis and characterization of polyimides based on novel tricyclo[6,2,2,02,7] dianhydride

3-Phenyl-tricyclo 6,2,2,0^2,7]dodeca-2,11-ene-5,6,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride was prepared from 1,1-diphenyl ethylene and maleic anhydride in 1 : 2 mole ratio by 4 + 2]π Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The structure of the dianhydride was determined by mass spectroscopy, IR, ¹H-NMR, elemental analyses, and single crystal x-ray diffraction. The monomer was condensed with several diamines in N-methyl pyrrolidone or m-cresol. The polyamic acids and the polyimides synthesized had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.19–0.31 and 0.17–0.25 dL/g, respectively, measured in N-methyl pyrrolidone at 30°C. Both the polyamic acids and the polyimides were found to be soluble in m-cresol, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide, dimethyl formamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. The polymides showed a low degree of crystallinity from wide angle x-ray diffraction. Thermal analysis of these polyimides revealed that their glass transition temperatures (T_g) were in the 215–237°C range and they decomposed in two stages. The first-stage decomposition temperatures were almost the same in O₂ or N₂ atmospheres, but the polymers showed a better thermal stability in O₂ rather than in N₂ in the second stage. The mechanism of thermal degradation is discussed.