Poly(arylene ether)s from new biphenols containing imidoarylene and dicyanoarylene moieties

Novel poly(arylene ether)s were synthesized from new biphenol monomers 14–161 containing imido- or dicyanoarylene groups. The syntheses of these polymers were carried out in tetramethylene sulfone in the presence of anhydrous K2CO3, by a nucleophilic substitution condensation between the biphenol and activated difluoro compounds to give high molecular weight polymers. All the polymers have high Tg 's and good thermal stability as determined from DSC and TGA analysis. Inherent viscosities of these polymers are in the range of 0.33–0.63 dL/g. They are amorphous and readily soluble in NMP, DMF, and DMSO. The glass-transition temperatures of the polymers range from 248–295 °C.