Synthesis of aromatic polyethers by Scholl reaction. I. Poly(1,1′‐dinaphthyl ether phenyl sulfone)s and poly(1,1′‐dinaphthyl ether phenyl ketone)s

Abstract

AbstractA novel synthetic method for the preparation of high molecular weight aromatic polyethers is presented. It consists in the Scholl reaction of di(1‐naphthyl) ethers of aromatic derivatives exhibiting lower nucleophilicity and higher oxidation potential than the 1‐naphthoxy groups. The examples described in this paper refer to the synthesis of aromatic polyether sulfones and aromatic polyether ketones by the polymerization of 4,4′‐di(1‐naphthoxy)diphenyl sulfone and respectively 4,4′‐di(1‐naphthoxy)benzophenone. Both polymerization reactions are performed at room temperature in nitrobenzene, using anhydrous FeCl3 as catalyst, and apparently follow a “reactive intermediate polycondensation” polymerization mechanism.