Soluble and Colorless Polyimides from Bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic 2,3:5,6-Dianhydrides

Abstract

Two tetracarboxylic dianhydrides with a polyalicyclic structure, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-endo,3-endo,5-exo,6-exo-tetracarboxylic 2,3:5,6-dianhydride (5a) and bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-exo,3-exo,5-exo,6-exo-tetracarboxylic 2,3:5,6-dianhydride (5b), were synthesized, and polycondensations of the dianhydrides with aromatic diamines were carried out in well-purified N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) at 85−105 °C under N2. The resulting poly(amic acid)s as precipitated possessed inherent viscosities in the range 0.5−0.1 dL/g. Some of the poly(amic acid)s formed flexible and tough films after curing. Polyimides were also obtained by a thermal solution imidization method where the DMAc solutions of poly(amic acid)s were heated at reflux temperature for 6 h. All of the examined polyimides were soluble at room temperature in aprotic and protic polar solvents such as DMAc and m-cresol. All of the polyimides showed excellent thermal stability with no significant weight loss up to approximately 400 °C, and the 5% weight loss ...