Synthesis and properties of polyimides from 4,4′-binaphthyl-1,1′,8,8′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride

4,4′-Binaphthyl-1,1′,8,8′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride was synthesized from 4-chloro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride and polymerized with aromatic and pliphatic diamines in m-cresol or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). The polyimides, except for two derived from p-phenylenediamine and hydrazine, are soluble in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and NMP. Their intrinsic viscosities ranged from 0.36 to 2.20 dL/g. The polymers showed excellent thermal and thermooxidative stabilities and displayed weak glass transition temperatures. Young's moduli of some polymer films were in the range of 2.5 and 5.4 GPa at 30°C. The aliphatic polyimides exhibited a stronger fluorescence than the aromatic polyimides. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.