Synthesis of polyarylenephthalides prospective as smart polymers

The data on the synthesis of polyarylenephthalides, their analogs, and derivatives are surveyed. The main attention is given to the synthesis of polyarylenes through the polycondensation of pseudoacid chlorides according to several variants, predominantly via the self-condensation of pseudoacid chlorides, which may be depicted by the general scheme

Open image in new windowI) (X = CO, Y = O), polyarylenephthalimidines (II) (X = CO, Y = NR₁, where R₁ is an aromatic hydrocarbon), and polyarylenesulfophthalides (III) (X = SO₂, Y = O). Polymers I and II hold promise for designing thermostable, heat-(T _g ≥ 420–470°C) and chemoresistant, and functional materials. One should distinguish the valuable functional properties of polymers I and III that make them prospective as smart polymers, namely, the switching effect induced by temperature, pressure, and electric and magnetic fields along with changes in color, electro-and photoluminescence. Owing to the presence of sulfophthalide groups, polymers III are candidates for use as latent polyelectrolytes. With consideration for the foregoing reasoning, phthalide-containing polyarylenes of several other classes, namely, polyaryleneketones, poly(arylene ether ketones), polyarylates, oligomer resols, and crosslinked systems on their basis, which are prospective as smart polymers, have been synthesized.