Abstract: | Two new aromatic diester‐dicarboxylic acids containing furan rings, namely, benzofuro2,3‐b]benzofuran‐2,9‐dicarboxyl‐bis‐pyridyl ester‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid and benzofuro2,3‐b]benzofuran‐2,9‐dicarboxyl‐bis‐phenyl ester‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid were synthesized by the reaction of benzofuro2,3‐b]benzofuran‐2,9‐dicarbonyl chloride with 6‐hydroxynicotinic acid and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid, respectively. These monomers were converted to aromatic copoly(ester–amide)s by reaction with various aromatic diamines via direct polycondensation. Polymers were characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, viscosity and solubility tests. The inherent viscosity of the polymers was in the range 0.23–0.46 dl g?1 in dimethyl sulfoxide at 30 °C. They dissolved readily in polar solvents at room temperature. They possess a glass‐transition temperature in the range 210–260 °C and exhibit excellent thermal stability. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry |