Abstract: | Polyamides and polyimides containing diamines, with potential non-linear optical characteristics, were prepared using (E)-4,4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]amino]bis[benzenamine] and (E)-4-4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]2-methyl phenyl]amino]bis[benzenamine] condensed with pyromellitic dianhydride to obtain poly(amic acid)s. The poly(amic acid)s were soluble in polar aprotic solvents, such as dimethylformamide, dimethylsulphoxide and dimethylacetamide, and could be cast into transparent, tough, flexible films. Amorphous thermally stable polyimides were formed by cyclodehydration. Similarly, (E)-4,4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]methylene]bis[benzenamine] and (E)-4,4′-[[[2-(4-pyridinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]methylene]bis[N-ethylbenzenamine] were condensed with 3-methyladipoyl chloride to obtain other new polyamides. Characterisation using infra-red and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis are reported. © 1997 SCI. |