Cyclopolycondensations. VIII. New Thermally Stable Aromatic Polybenzoxazinones by Solution Polymerization in Polyphosphoric Acid

High molecular weight polybenzoxazinones have been prepared by cyclo-polycondensation reaction of 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid with a variety of aromatic carbonyl compounds using a solution polymerization technique in polyphosphoric acid. From the model reactions of anthranilic acid, and 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid with benzoyl chloride in polyphosphoric acid, it is established that the cyclopolycondensation proceeds through the formation of an open-chain tractable precursor, polyamic acid of high molecular weight (ninh = 2.66) in the first step, which subsequently undergoes thermal or chemical cyclodehydration along the polymer chain, to yield, in the second step, a fully aromatic polybenz-oxazinone. Polybenzoxazinones thus obtained have excellent thermal stability both in nitrogen and in air.

The optimum polymerization conditions for obtaining polyamic acid of high molecular weight are determined by the study of reaction variables such as polymerization temperatures, monomer concentrations, and reaction time as well as the effect of P₂O₅ concentrations in polyphosphoric acid.