| Abstract: | The synthesis and characterization of the fluoropolymers poly 1a – 1d and poly 2a – 2d with pendant hydroxyl groups were examined. The polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s 2,2′‐bis(4‐glycidyletherphenyl)hexafluoropropane and bisphenol A diglycidyl ether] with dicarboxylic acids (tetrafluoroterephthalic acid and terephthalic acid) and diols 2,2′‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′,6,6′‐octafluoro‐4,4′‐biphenol, 1,4‐bis(hexafluorohydroxyisopropyl)benzene, and 1,3‐bis(hexafluorohydroxyisopropyl)benzene] was carried out at 50–100 °C for 6–48 h in the presence of quaternary onium salts (tetrabutylammonium bromide, tetrabutylammonium chloride, tetrabutylphosphonium bromide, and tetrabutylphosphonium chloride; 2.5 mol %) as catalysts in dimethyl sulfoxide, N‐methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dioxane, diglyme, o‐dichlorobenzene, chlorobenzene, and toluene to afford the corresponding polymers, poly 1a – 1d and poly 2a – 2d , with number‐average molecular weights of 11,000–59,400 in 45–97% yields. The solubility of the obtained polymers was good, and their thermal stability might be assumed from their structures. A linear relationship was observed between the contents of the fluorine atoms and the refractive indices. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1395–1404, 2002 |
