Synthesis and characterization of the novel type of polymerizable bisphthalonitrile monomers

Three new bisphthalonitrile derivatives are prepared by the nucleophilic displacement of the nitrosubstituent from 4‐nitrophthalonitrile with 9,9‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)fluorene; 9,9‐bis(3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, and phenolphthalein in the presence of potassium carbonate. The reaction has been carried out in dimethylsulfoxide solvent. These monomers are characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, 1H NMR, TGA, DSC, and mass spectral studies. A tentative mechanism for the fragmentation of the compounds is given to explain the mass spectral data. The compounds are expected to be useful to prepare thermally stable thermosetting phthalocyanine polymers.