Utilization of N,N-diethyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamide to prepare functionalized poly(arylene ether)s

Abstract

A series of poly(arylene ether)s carrying a pendant diethyl sulfonamide group was prepared by the meta activated nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of a new aryl difluoride monomer, N,N-diethyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamide. The synthesis of N,N-diethyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamide was achieved via the one-step reaction of diethyl amine with commercially available 3,5-difluorobenzenesulfonyl chloride. Model reactions and NMR data indicated that the fluoride atoms were sufficiently activated by the sulfonamide group, located in the meta position, to provide access to high molecular weight poly(arylene ether)s. The corresponding poly(arylene ether)s, were prepared by reaction of N,N-diethyl-3,5-difluorobenzene sulfonamide with bisphenol A, bisphenol AF, 4,4′-biphenol, hydroquinone, resorcinol, and 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ether. The polymers were characterized via NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The sulfonamide based poly(arylene ether)s displayed moderate thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures ranging from 366 to 385°C, but possessed relatively low glass transition temperatures, 72–142°C.