Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamides derived from 2,6-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene and various aromatic dicarboxylic acids

2,6-Bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene (2,6-BAPON) was synthesized in two steps from the condensation of 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate, giving 2,6-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)naphthalene, followed by hydrazine hydrate/Pd—C reduction. A series of new polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of 2,6-BAPON with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids in the N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved metal salts such as CaCl₂ or LiCl using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.62–2.50 dL/g. Most of the polymers were soluble in aprotic dipolar solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and NMP, and they could be solution cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films. The casting films had yield strengths of 84–105 MPa, tensile strengths of 68–95 MPa, elongations at break of 8–36%, and tensile moduli of 1.4–2.1 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of the polyamides were in the range 155–225°C, and their 10% weight loss temperatures were above 505°C in nitrogen and above 474°C in air. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2147–2156, 1997