Comparative study on polyimides from 3,3′-and 4,4′-linked diphthalic anhydride

1,4-Bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride, 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride, bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)sulfide dianhydride, bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)sulfide dianhydride, and 2,3,3′,4′-tetracarboxy diphenyl sulfide dianhydride were synthesized from 3-chlorophthalic anhydride and 4-chlorophthalic anhydride. Bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenyl)sulfone and bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)sulfone were obtained by the oxidation of the corresponding bis(dicarboxyphenyl)sulfide by hydrogen peroxide. The polyimides from the dianhydrides mentioned above and 4,4′-oxydianiline were prepared. The properties, such as dynamic mechanical behavior, thermooxidative stability, stress-strain behavior, chemical resistance, and permeability to some gases have been in investigated for the isomeric polyimides. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.