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