Synthesis of polyimides and segmented block copolyimides by transimidization

Abstract

The transimidization reaction has been successfully utilized to prepare a series of segmented block copolyimides. The synthesis and polymerization of an AX-type amino imide monomer containing the tetrahydro[5]helicene unit were accomplished. The AX-type amino imide monomer is stable during isolation and purification, owing to its inert X (e.g., N-pyridyl) group, but yet readily underwent a self-transimidization reaction and produced polyimide. Because of the presence of two reactive ends, such an AX-type polyimide could be incorporated into a series of block copolyimides by reaction with commercially available dianhydrides and diamines. All the copolymers showed two distinct glass-transition temperatures, typically around 250 and 430 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3991–3996, 2000