Synthesis of new poly(amide-imide)s XX. Preparation and properties of poly(amide-Imide)s derived from 1,7-Bis(4-aminophenoxy) naphthalene,trimellitic anhydride,and various aromatic diamines

A dicarboxylic acid (1,7-BTMPN) bearing two preformed imide rings, was prepared from the condensation of 1,7-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene and trimellitic anhydride. A new family of poly(amide-imide)s with inherent viscosities up to 1.56 dL/g (0.5g/dL in DMAc at 30 °C) was prepared by the triphenyl phosphite activated polycondensation from the diimide-diacid 1,7-BTMPN with various aromatic diamines in a medium consisting ofN-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), pyridine, and calcium chloride. Most of the resulting polymers were readily soluble in polar solvents such as NMP and DMAc. All the soluble poly(amide-imide)s can form transparent, flexible, and tough films. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 185–267°C and the 10% weight loss temperatures were above 430 °C in nitrogen.     

Preparation and properties of polyamide-imides derived from 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene,trimellitic anhydride,and various aromatic diamines

A diamine, 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy) benzene (II), was synthesized in two steps; fist from the condensation of resorcinol with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of potassium carbonate, producing I ,3-bis(4-nitrophenoxy) benzene (I), followed by hydrazine hydrate/Pd-C reduction. A two imide rings-preformed dicarboxylic acid, 1,3-bis(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)benzene (III), was prepared from the condensation of diamine II and trimellitic anhydride in 1:2 molar ratio. A series of structurally new polyamide-imides (V_a-p) were directly synthesized from the diacid III and various aromatic diamines (IV_a-p). The resultant polyamide-imides had inherent viscosities between 0.56–1.39 dl/g. All polymers, except some derived from diamines with p-phenoxy structure, showed excellent solubility. Some polymer resulted in tough or flexible transparent films. Dynamic TG data indicated that all polymers possess excellent thermal stability with no significant weight loss up to the temperature of approximately 450 °C in nitrogen, and their 10% weight loss temperature was recorded in the range of 489–577 °C. Measurements of wide-angle X-ray diffraction revealed that some polymers derived from p-phenoxy group-containing diamines showed crystalline patterns.     

Synthesis and Properties of Soluble and Light-Colored Poly(amide-imide-imide)s Based on Tetraimide-Dicarboxylic Acid Condensed from 4,4'-Oxydiphthalic Anhydride, 2,2-Bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone, and m-Aminobenzoic Acid, and Various Aromatic Diamines

A new-type of tetraimide-dicarboxylic acid (I) was synthesized starting from the ring-opening addition of m-aminobenzoic acid (m-ABA), 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), and 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone (BAPS) at a 2:2:1 molar ratio in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), followed by cyclodehydration to the diacid I. A series of soluble and light-colored poly(amide-imide-imide)s (III _a-j) was prepared by triphenyl phosphite-activated polycondensation from the tetraimide-diacid I with various aromatic diamines (II _a-j). All films cast from DMAc had cutoff wavelengths shorter than 390 nm (379–390 nm) and had b ^* values between 24.17–35.50; these polymers were much lighter in color than those of the alternating trimellitimide series. All of the polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as NMP, N,N-dimethyl acetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and even in less polar m-cresol and pyridine. Polymers III _a-j afforded tough, transparent, and flexible films, which had a strength at break ranging from 93 to 118 MPa, elongation at break from 8 to 11%, and initial modulus from 2.2 to 2.8 GPa, and some films showed yield points in the range of 95–111 MPa at stress–strain curves. The glass transition temperature of the polymers was recorded at 240–268°C. They had 10% weight loss at a temperature above 540°C and left more than 55% residue even at 800°C in nitrogen.     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble cardo poly(amide-imide)s derived from 2,2-bis[4-(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]norbornane

A series of new soluble poly(amide-imide)s were prepared from the diimide-dicarboxylic acid, 2,2-bis[4-(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]norbornane, and various diamines by the direct polycondensation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone containing CaCl_2, using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 1.01-1.42 dL g⁻¹. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of the polymers showed number-average and weight-average molecular weight up to 67,300 and 118,000, respectively. The poly(amide-imide)s were amorphous and were readily soluble in various solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), pyridine, cyclohexanone and tetrahydrofuran. Tough and flexible films were obtained by casting their DMAc solution. The films had tensile strength of 89-110 MPa and a tensile modulus range of 1.8-2.2 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were determined by DSC method and they were in the range of 265-295 °C. The polymers were fairly stable up to a temperature around or above 450 °C, and lose 10% weight in the range of 472-504 °C and 490-520 °C in nitrogen and air, respectively.     

Polyimides based on “multiring” flexible diamines

The five benzene rings-containing (hereafter for convenience, referred to as five-ringrd) diamines ad-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,4 (or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene (p- or m-3) were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of ,-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1, 4 (or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene (p- or m-1) with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃ and then hydro-reduced. The polyimides were synthesized from diamine 3 and various aromatic dianhydrides via the two-stage procedure that include ring-opening polyaddition in DMAc to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal conversion to polyimides. The poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.63–1.54 dL/g depending on the dianhydrides used. Almost all the poly(amic acid)s could be solution-cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. These polyimides have glass transition temperatures in the range of 186–290°C and almost no weight loss up to 500°C in air or nitrogen atmosphere. The polyimide obtained from pyromellitic dianhydride and diamine m-3 showed two endothermic peaks of 270 and 300°C on the diagram of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the other polyimides showed no endotherms on their DSC traces.     

Synthesis and Properties of New Aromatic Polyimides Based on 2,6-Bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene and Aromatic Tetracarboxylic Dianhydrides

A series of new aromatic polyimides containing bis(phenoxy)naphthalene units were synthesized from 2,6-bis(4-aminophenoxy)naphthalene (2,6-BAPON) and various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides by the conventional two-stage procedure with thermal imidization of poly(amic acid) films. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s obtained had inherent viscosties of 1.60–3.31 dL/g, and they could be solution cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. The resulting polyimide films had tensile moduli of 1.5–2.3 GPa, tensile strengths of 105–124 MPa, and elongations at break of 7–22%. The polyimide derived from 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) was readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents. The glass-transition temperatures of these polyimides, except for that from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), were recorded between 255 and 295°C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The softening temperatures of all the polyimide films stayed within 246–286°C according to thermomechanical analysis (TMA). Thermogravimetic analyses (TGA) established that these polymers were fairly stable up to 500°C, and the 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded in the range of 543–563°C in nitrogen and 535–563°C in air atmosphere.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of soluble aromatic poly(amide imide)s

Novel diamines such as N,N′-bis(aminoaryl)terephthalamido-2-carboxylic acids (BATCA), which contain primary amine, amide and carboxylic acid groups and are soluble in dilute aqueous NaOH solution, were synthesized by reacting aromatic diamines with trimellitic anhydride chloride in dimethylformamide. Poly(amide imide)s containing 3:1 ratio of amide:imide groups in the polymer chain were prepared by low temperature solution polymerization of BATCAs with isophthaloyl chloride or terephthaloyl chloride in dimethylformamide at 5-10 °C to form poly(amide amic acid)s, and followed by treating with a mixture of triethylamine and acetic anhydride. The PAIs were soluble in polar aprotic solvents like dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulphoxide and N-methylpyrrolidone, and have inherent viscosities in the range of 0.30-0.66 dL/g. The PAIs were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR techniques. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has shown that the initial decomposition temperatures of the polymers are in the range of 250-440 °C, depending upon the structures of diamine and diacid chloride. The glass transition temperatures of the PAIs are in the range of 128-320 °C. The IDT and T_g values of the polymers containing terephthaloyl unit are higher by about 20-40 °C than those of the polymers with isophthaloyl unit. BATCA could be utilized for the preparation of thin film composite membranes having PAA/PAI barrier layer on PES by in situ interfacial polymerization with IPC/TPC/TMC.     

Thermal behavior of 1,4-bis(4-trimellitimido-2-trifluoromethyl phenoxy)benzene (DIDA) solvated with polar organic solvents and properties of DIDA-based poly(amide-imide)s

Fluorinated diimide-dicarboxylic acid (DIDA, Code: IV), 1,4-bis(4-trimellitimido-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy) benzene, synthesized by reacting 1,4-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethyl phenoxy)benzene (I) with trimellitic anhydride in polar solvents (PSv), was found to crystallize easily in amide-type solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), or 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) media, to form a series of stable crystalline solvates (III_(NMP), III_(DMAc), III_DMF), III_(DMI)) containing a certain quantity of crystalline solvent. The solvates III_(PSv) were characterized and proven by DSC, TGA, and X-ray analysis. The decomposition point temperature (T_d) was different with the type of polar solvents in III_(PSv). Elemental analysis and NMR showed that most of the III_(PSv) were formed from IV and polar solvents in the ratio of 1:2, and the solvation processes were found to be reversible. Furthermore, a series of soluble fluorinated poly(amide-imide)s (VI_a-h) were synthesized from reacting either the NMP-solvates III_(NMP) or dry/non-solvates IV with an equivalent amount of diamines by direct polycondensation using triphenyl phosphate and pyridine as condensing agents. Thermal and mechanical properties of the fluorinated VI_a-h were measured, and compared with counterparts of non-fluorinated PAI's (Code: VI′s). In comparison, the fluorinated VI_a-h poly(amide-imide)s exhibited better solubility, tensile, and thermal properties than the non-fluorinated VI′s.     

Synthesis of isomeric bis(amine anhydride)s for novel poly(amine imide)s by Pd-catalyzed amination of 4-chlorophthalic anhydride

Two novel bis(amine anhydride) monomers, N,N′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,4-phenylenediamine dianhydride I and N,N′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,3-phenylenediamine dianhydride II, were prepared via palladium-catalyzed amination reaction of 4-chloro-N-methylphthalimide with 1,4-phenylenediamine or 1,3-phenylenediamine, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(amine imide)s and subsequent dehydration of the resulting tetraacids. A series of new poly(amine imide)s were prepared from the synthesized dianhydride monomers with various diamines in NMP via conventional two-step method. FT-IR spectra of the poly(amine imide)s revealed that in the solid state, intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding (N-H?OC) are present. These polymers had glass transition temperatures in the range of 250-295 °C. The 10% weight loss temperature of the resulting poly(amine imide)s ranged from 539 to 560 °C in nitrogen. The poly(amine imide)s have the peel strength values ranging from 283 to 358 N/m. The poly(amine imide)s films were found to be transparent, flexible, and tough. The films had a tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile modulus in the ranges 102-152 MPa, 11.3-19.6%, and 1.04-2.08 GPa, respectively.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(amide-imide)s based on 1,5-bis(4-trimellitimido)naphthalene

1,5-Bis(4-trimellitimido)naphthalene (II) was prepared by the condensation reaction of 1,5-naphthalenediamine and trimellitic anhydride. A series of aromatic poly(amide-imide)s (IV _a–o) was synthesized by the direct polycondensation of the diimide-diacid (II) and various aromatic diamines (III _a–o). The reaction utilized triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents in the presence of calcium chloride in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The inherent viscosities of the resulting poly(amide-imide)s were in the range of 0.55∼1.39 dL/g. These polymers were generally soluble in polar solvents, such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), NMP, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Flexible and tough poly(amide-imide) films were obtained by casting from a DMAc solution and had tensile strengths of 90∼145 MPa, elongations to break of 5∼13 %, and initial moduli of 2.29∼3.73 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of some poly(amide-imide)s were recorded in the range of 206∼218 °C, and most of the polymers did not show discernible glass transition on their DSC traces. The 10% weight loss temperatures were above 522 °C in nitrogen and above 474 °C in air atmosphere.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyamides and poly(amide-imide)s based on ether-sulfone-diamines

A series of polyamides and poly(amide-imide)s were prepared by the direct polycondensation of 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(1,4-phenyleneoxy)]dianiline or 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenyleneoxy)]dianiline with aromatic dicarboxylic acids and phthalimide unit-bearing dicarboxylic acids in a N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polymers were above 0.45 dL/g and up to 1.70 dL/g. Except for the polyamides derived from terephthalic acid and 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid, all the other polyamides and all poly(amide-imide)s were readily soluble in polar organic solvents such as NMP, N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and m-cresol, and afforded transparent and tough films by solution-casting. Most of the polymers showed distinct glass transition on their differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) traces and their glass transition temperatures (T_g) stayed between 140–264 °C. The methyl-substituted polymers showed higher T_gs than the corresponding unsubstituted counterparts. The results of the thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) revealed that all the methyl-substituted polymers showed lower initial decomposition temperatures than the unsubstituted ones.     

New fluorinated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)s

New fluorinated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether-imide)s have been prepared by solution polycondensation reaction of different aromatic diamines having preformed 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, such as 2,5-bis(p-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, with an aromatic dianhydride incorporating ether linkages and hexafluoroisopropylidene group, namely 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2,2-bis-[(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]-propane dianhydride. The polymers were easily soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylformamide, and pyridine, as well as in certain low boiling-point organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Very thin coatings deposited onto silicon wafers exhibited smooth, pinhole-free surface in atomic force microscopy. The polymers showed high thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 410 °C. They exhibited a glass transition in the temperature range of 183-217 °C, with reasonable interval between glass transition and decomposition temperature. Solutions of some polymers in N,N-dimethylformamide exhibited blue fluorescence, having maximum emission wavelength in the range of 411-424 nm.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel benzhydrol-containing poly(amide-imide)s

A series of novel benzhydrol-containing poly(amide-imide)s (PAIs) have been prepared from a new diimide-dicarboxylic acid, N,N′-bis(4-hydroxycarbonyl)-benzhydrol-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxydiimide (BHTDA-DIA), with various diamines by direct polycondensation using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The polymers obtained had inherent viscosities of 0.35–0.96 dl g⁻¹. All these PAIs, except polymer PAI-2, were soluble in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and N,N-dimethylacetamide containing LiCl (1 wt%). Tough and flexible PAI films could be obtained by casting PAIs from their DMAc or NMP solutions, except for polymer PAI-2. The polymer films had a tensile strength of 93–111 MPa, an elongation at break range of 4–6%, and an initial modulus range of 2.7–3.8 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of most polymers were found to be above 255 °C. These polymers were fairly stable up to a temperature around or above 400 °C, and lost 10% weight in the range 426–507 °C in nitrogen and 423–515 °C in air. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Copoly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether)s containing phthalide groups and thin films made therefrom

A series of aromatic copolyethers containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings and phthalide groups was prepared by nucleophilic substitution polymerization technique of phenolphthalein, 1, or of an equimolecular amount of 1 and different bisphenols 2, such as: 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol, 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol, 4,4′-(1,4-phenylene-diisopropylidene)bisphenol, 4,4′-cyclohexylidene-bisphenol and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene, with 2,5-bis(p-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 3. The polymers were easily soluble in polar solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide and chloroform and can be cast from solutions into thin flexible films. They showed high thermal stability, with decomposition temperature being above 400 °C. The polymers exhibited a glass transition temperature in the range of 220-271 °C, with reasonable interval between glass transition and decomposition temperature. Electrical insulating properties of some polymer films were evaluated on the basis of dielectric constant and dielectric loss and their variation with frequency and temperature. The values of the dielectric constant at 10 kHz and 20 °C were in the range of 2.98-3.15.     

Low glass transition temperature aliphatic polyurethanes

Summary The present paper deals with the single step syntheses of a few aliphatic polyurethanes using some simple glycols like ethylene, propylene, 1,3- and 1,4-butylene glycols and two different bis(chloromethyl) compounds viz., 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)-2,5-dimethyl benzene (I), and 1,5-bis(chloromethyl)-2,4-dimethyl benzene (II). The glass transition temperatures, T_g, of these polymers were determined using dilatometric techniques and they ranged from –12 to –48°C. The polyurethanes derived from 1,4-butylene and ethylene glycols were amorphous gums with T_g well below –30°C.     

Syntheses and properties of aromatic polyamides derived from 4,4′-oxydibenzoic acid and aromatic diamines

A series of aromatic polyamides were synthesized by direct polycondensation of 4,4-oxydibenzoic acid with various aromatic diamines inN-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution containing dissolved calcium chloride, using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The resultant polyamides had inherent viscosities of 0.21-1.48 dL/g. Most of the polymers were organo-soluble and could be solution-cast into flexible and strong films. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of most polyamides could be determined with the help of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) traces, which were recorded in the range of 170–275 °C. Thermogravi metric data of these polymers indicated that most of the polyamides showed no significant weight loss before 450 °C in either air or nitrogen atmospheres.     

New poly(amide–imide)s syntheses. 17. Preparation and properties of poly(amide–imide)s derived from N-phenyl-3,3-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)-phenyl]phthalimidine,trimellitic anhydride,and various aromatic diamines

A dicarboxylic acid ( 1 ) bearing two phthalimide rings was prepared by the condensation of N-phenyl-3,3-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]phthalimidine and trimellitic anhydride. A new family of poly(amide–imide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.65–1.65 dl/g was prepared by the triphenyl phosphite activated polycondensation of the diimide–diacid 1 with various aromatic diamines in a medium consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), pyridine, and calcium chloride. All the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in polar solvents such as NMP and N,N-dimethylacetamide. The soluble poly(amide–imide)s afforded transparent, flexible, and tough films. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range 249–340°C and the 10% weight loss temperatures were above 545°C in nitrogen.     

Direct synthesis of soluble and thermally stable poly(urethane-imide)s from a new triimide-dicarbonylazide

A new aromatic dicarbonylazide (3) bearing three preformed imide rings was synthesized by treating N-[3,5-bis(trimellitimido)phenyl]phthalimide (1) with thionyl chloride followed by a nucleophilic reaction with sodium azide. A novel family of fully aromatic poly(urethane-imide)s with inherent viscosities of 0.19-0.24 dl g⁻¹ were prepared from triimide-dicarbonylazide 3 and various aromatic diols. The polyaddition reactions readily proceeded in desirable yields as one-pot reactions starting from 3 without separately synthesis of the corresponding diisocyanate. All of the resulted polymers were thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic methods and elemental analyses. The poly(urethane-imide)s exhibited an excellent solubility in a variety of polar solvents. Crystallinity nature of the polymers was estimated by means of WXRD. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers determined by DSC method were in the range of 197-219 °C. The 10% weight loss temperatures of the poly(urethane-imide)s from their TGA/DTG curves were found to be in the range of 391-412 °C in nitrogen. The films of the polymers were also prepared by casting the solution.     

Thermostable soluble aromatic poly(amide-imide)s having hexafluoroisopropylidene and ether links in the main chain

An imide-containing dicarboxylic acid, 2,2-bis[4-(4-trimellitimidophenoxy)phenyl]-hexafluoropropane (I), was prepared by the condensation of 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-hexafluoropropane and trimellitic anhydride. A series of new hexafluoroisopropylidene-containing poly(amide-imide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.64–1.44 dL/g were prepared by the direct polycondensation of diimide-diacid I with various long-chain aromatic diamines using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the presence of calcium chloride. Most of the resulting poly(amide-imide)s were noncrystalline and showed good solubility in polar organic solvents. Almost all polymers afforded transparent, flexible, and tough films. The 10 % weight loss temperatures of these polymers were all above 499 °C, and the glass transition temperatures were in the range of 203–277 °C.     

Synthesis and characterization of new organo-soluble poly(amide-imide)s based on 1,4-bis(trimellitimido)-2,5-dimethylbenzene

Summary A series of new aromatic poly(amide-imide)s were synthesized by the triphenyl phosphite activated polycondensation of the diimide-diacid, 1,4-bis(trimellitimido)-2,5-dimethylbenzene (I), with various aromatic diamines. The poly(amide-imide)s had inherent viscosities of 1.13–2.22 dL/g. Most of the resulting polymers showed an amorphous nature and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents. Transparent, flexible, and tough films of these polymers could be cast from DMAc or NMP solutions. Their cast films had tensile strengths ranging from 64 to 116 MPa, elongations at break from 6 to 20%, and initial moduli from 2.18 to 3.90 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range of 247–324°C. Received: 13 April 1999/Revised version: 28 May 1999/Accepted: 26 June 1999