Hyperbranched Poly(aryl ether oxazole)s: Synthesis, Characterization, and Modification

In this paper the synthesis and characterization of a hyperbranched poly(aryl ether oxazole) with terminal phenolic groups are described. An ABB‘ monomer containing a pair of phenolic groups and an aryl fluoride which is activated toward displacement by the attached oxazole ring was prepared. The nucleophilic substitution of the fluoride with the phenolic group leads to the formation of ether linkage and subsequently the hyperbranched poly(aryl ether oxazole) P1 . As determined by a combination of model compound studies and 1 H NMR integration experiments, the degree of branching of P1 is approximately 50%. The polymer P1 is thermally stable and readily soluble in polar organic solvents. The terminal phenolic groups in P1 were easily functionalized, yielding hyperbranched polymers with a variety of functional chain ends. Physical properties, such as the glass transition temperature and the solubility of the hyperbranched poly(aryl ether oxazole)s, depended significantly on the nature of the chain ends.