Preparation and properties of polyarylates both from 2,2′-bibenzoyl chloride and bisphenols and from biphenyl-2,2′-diol and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

Polyarylates having inherent viscosities up to 1.02 dL/g were synthesized both by the phase-transfer catalyzed two-phase polycondensation of 2,2′-bibenzoyl chloride with various bisphenols and by the high-temperature solution polycondensation of biphenyl-2,2′-diol with aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides. All the polyarylates were amorphous and soluble in a variety of organic solvents including N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methyl–2-pyrrolidone, chloroform, m-cresol, and pyridine. Transparent and flexible films of these polymers could be cast from the chloroform solutions. These polyarylates had glass transition temperatures in the range of 120–250°C and began to lose weight at around 380°C in air. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.