New poly(arylene ether)s containing phthalimidine group in the main chain

Five new poly(arylene ether)s containing phthalimidine group in the main chain and pendent trifluoromethyl group have been prepared by the reaction of 4,4′‐(bis‐4‐fluoro‐3‐trifluoromethylphenyl)benzene (BTF) with bisphenols. Different molar ratios of N‐phenyl‐3,3‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)phthalimidine (PA) and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol (BPA) have been used to generate different copolymers. The polymers obtained by step growth polymerization exhibited weight‐average molecular weight upto 134,000 g/mol with a polydispersity index of 2.1–2.4. The homopolymer from BTF and PA showed very high glass transition temperature of 258°C and outstanding thermal stability upto 536°C for 5% weight loss under nitrogen. The polymers were soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. Transparent thin films of these polymers exhibited tensile strengths upto 65 MPa and elongation at break upto 45% depending on the exact repeat unit structures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009