Synthesis of aliphatic–aromatic polyamides by palladium-catalyzed polycondensation of aliphatic diamines,aromatic dibromides,and carbon monoxide

Aliphatic–aromatic polyamides were synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed polycondensation of aliphatic diamines, aromatic dibromides, and carbon monoxide. The effects of variables, such as the kind and amount of base, reaction temperature, and the kind of palladium catalyst were investigated in detail on the reaction of hexamethylenediamine and bis(4-bromophenyl) ether with carbon monoxide. Inherent viscosities of the polyamides were between 0.13 and 1.21 dL/g and varied markedly with the structure of the diamine component. Solubility of the polyamides decreased with increase of chain length of aliphatic diamines, and the polyamides derived from p-dibromobenzene was insoluble in organic solvents except for m-cresol. Polyamides obtained from primary aliphatic diamines began to decompose at 210–250°C in air due to decomposition of the aliphatic chain.