Diphenyl Oxide Copolyarylenephthalides with Different Ratio of Phthalide and Diphthalide Groups

Abstract

The interbicopolycondensation of 3,3'-bis(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3,3'-diphthalide and diphenyl oxide with intermonomer, 4,4'-bis(2-carboxybenzoyl)diphenyl oxide pseudoacid dichloride, proceeding by the Friedel–Crafts electrophilic substitution mechanism is used for the synthesis of a number of new diphenyl oxide copolyarylenephthalides with different ratios of phthalide and diphthalide groups in the polymer chain. It is shown that the ratio of diphthalide (meso and racemic) and common phthalide groups in the main chain significantly affects the morphological structure of the copolymers. A side “rephthalidation” reaction is found, which consists in the catalytic cleavage of the diphthalide group accompanied by the generation of two phthaloyl carbocations, which, along with the intermonomer, interact with diphenyl oxide, participating in the polymer-forming reaction.