Polyquinolines: versatile aromatics with diverse properties

Polyquinolines can be synthesized by a polymerization react~on which allows a variety of structural modificiations, resulting in a range of chain stiffness that can be altered from a relatively flexible polymer with a low glass transition temperature to a rod-like molecule with a high glass transition temperature. The polymerization reaction is acid catalyzed, but is carried out most effectively by a new polymerization agent, dicresyl phosphate. Most of the polymers are soluble in common organic solvents, such that fiber can be dry-spun and transparent films can be cast from solution. Excellent thermal stability is observed for these materials. Other rigid polyquinolines that have high transition temperatures and are highly crystalline are not as readily fabricated.