Synthesis and properties of novel aromatic polyhydrazides and poly(amide–hydrazide)s based on the bis(ether benzoic acid)s from hydroquinone and substituted hydroquinones

4,4′‐(1,4‐Phenylenedioxy)dibenzoic acid as well as the 2‐methyl‐, 2‐tert‐butyl‐, or 2‐phenyl‐substituted derivatives of this dicarboxylic acid were synthesized in two main steps from p‐fluorobenzonitrile and hydroquinone or its methyl‐, tert‐butyl‐, or phenyl‐substituted derivatives. Polyhydrazides and poly(amide–hydrazide)s were prepared from these bis(ether benzoic acid)s or their diacyl chlorides with terephthalic dihydrazide, isophthalic dihydrazide, or p‐aminobenzoyl hydrazide by means of the phosphorylation reaction or low‐temperature solution polycondensation. Most of the hydrazide polymers and copolymers are amorphous and readily soluble in various polar solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethyl sulfoxide. They could be solution‐cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films. These polyhydrazides and poly(amide–hydrazide)s had T_gs in the range of 167–237°C and could be thermally cyclodehydrated into the corresponding poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s and poly(amide–1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s approximately in the region of 250–350°C, as evidenced by the DSC thermograms. All the tert‐butyl‐substituted oxadiazole polymers and those derived from isophthalic dihydrazide were organic soluble. The thermally converted oxadiazole polymers exhibited T_gs in the range of 208–243°C and did not show significant weight loss before 450°C either in nitrogen or in air. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1169–1181, 1999