Aromatic rigid chain copolymers. I. Synthesis,structure, and solubility of phenyl-substituted para-linked aromatic random copolyamides

Four 2,5-biphenylene based difunctional condensation monomers, such as 2,5-diphenyldicar-boxylic acid or phenylterephthalic acid (PTA), 2,5-bis(carbonylimino-4-benzoic acid)biphenyl (2,5-BCIBABP), 2,5-diaminobiphenyl hydrochloride (2,5-DABP.HCl) and 2,5-bis(iminocarbonyl-4-benzoic acid)biphenyl (2,5-BICBABP), have been synthesized and characterized. These monomers were polymerized in combination with terephthalic acid (TA) and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) via the phosphorylation reaction to prepare a series of phenyl-substituted random copolyamides having all amide groups attached to para-positions of the benzene rings. All the copolyamides have been characterized by solubility, solution viscosity, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Some of these copolyamides have unusual solubility in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) containing dissolved lithium chloride. A few copolyamides were tested for lyotropic behavior and found to form anisotropic solutions at critical concentrations in organic solvents. A randomly distributed unsymmetrical phenyl substituent on the benzene ring of para-oriented wholly aromatic polyamides dramatically changes the solubility and melting point. The phenyl substituent on a terephthalic acid unit is more efficient in decreasing melting point and increasing solubility in organic solvents of aromatic polyamides than the one on a p-phenylenediamine unit. However, the former also introduces a more flexible link in the extended polyamide chain.