Polyimides from a Novel Monomer 3,6-Bis(dimethylamino)acridine(p-cymene)dichlororuthenium(II) for a Catalytic Application

Tricyclic heteroaraomatic dye-based monomer containing NMe₂ units, 6-bis(dimethylamino)acridine(p-cymene)dichlororuthenium (II), was used to prepare novel polyimides via a one-stage solution polycondensation due to their stability under a variety of oxidative and reductive conditions. The Ru(II) complex monomer was synthesized starting from RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ and 3,6-bis(dimethylamino)acridine. A series of stable polyimides was synthesized from the Ru(II) complex of 3,6-bis(dimethylamino)acridine and various aromatic dianhyrides. The polymers had inherent viscosities ranging from 1.72 to 2.11 dL/g and were soluble in polar solvents. The glass transition temperatures were 192–278 °C, and the 10% weight loss temperatures were above 503–635 °C. Ruthenium-substituted polyimides were tested for catalytic activity in the furan formation reaction of (Z)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-1-ol. The polymeric catalyst was added to (Z)-3-methylpent-2-en-4-yn-l-ol without a solvent and the pure furan was isolated by distillation under reduced pressure. The conversion of the starting, enynol, was determined by gas chromatography (GC).