Alkyne‐containing phthalonitrile resins: Controlling mechanical properties by selective curing

An alkyne‐containing multiple aromatic ether‐linked phthalonitrile has been synthesized and characterized. The oligomeric phthalonitrile monomer was prepared from the reaction of an excess amount of bisphenol A with 4,4′‐dibromotolane in the presence of K₂CO₃ in a N,N‐dimethylformamide/toluene solvent mixture, followed by end‐capping with 4‐nitrophthalonitrile in a two‐step, one‐pot reaction. After being cured in the presence of bis(4‐4‐aminophenoxy]phenyl)sulfone, the polymeric properties of the alkyne‐ and non‐alkyne‐containing oligomeric phthalonitrile resins were compared. Rheometric measurements and thermogravimetric analysis showed that the alkyne‐containing oligomeric phthalonitrile resin had better mechanical properties than an analogous non‐alkyne‐containing resin cured under identical conditions and exhibited excellent thermal and oxidative properties. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4774–4778