Synthesis and characterization of novel polyarylates from 2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-diphenylfuran and aromatic diacid chlorides

New tetraphenylated heterocyclic diol, 2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-diphenylfuran, was synthesized by the oxidative coupling of 4-methoxydeoxybenzoin as a starting material, followed by simultaneous cyclodehydration and demethylation. Tetraphenylfuran-containing polyarylates with inherent viscosities of 0.2–0.7 dL/g were prepared from various diacid chlorides by both solution polycondensation and phase transfer catalyzed two-phase polymerization methods. All the polymers were easily soluble in dichloromethane, o-chlorophenol, 1,4-dioxane, pyridine, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and showed semicrystalline patterns as evidenced by the X-ray diffraction studies. These polyarylates have glass transition temperatures in the range of 222–236°C and 10% weight loss was observed above 430°C in both air and nitrogen.