Synthesis of aromatic polyamide-imides from N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted aromatic diamines and 4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride

The polymerization of N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted aromatic diamines with 4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride in various solvents at a temperature range between 10 and 70°C afforded polyamide-amic acid trimethylsilyl esters having inherent viscosities of 0.8–1.4 dL/g. Transparent and flexible films of the silylated precursor polymers were obtained by casting directly from the polymer solutions. Desilylation of the silylated polymers with methanol resulted in the formation of the corresponding polyamide-amic acids. Subsequent thermal imidization of the silylated precursor polymers with the elimination of trimethylsilanol afforded yellow, transparent, and tough films of the aromatic polyamide-imides. The thermal conversion of the silylated precursor polymer to polyamide-imide proceeded almost as rapidly as that of the corresponding polyamide-amic acid prepared by a conventional method from the parent aromatic diamine and 4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride.