Aromatic polybenzoxazoles containing ether–sulfone linkages

A series of poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s having both ether and sulfone linkages in the main chain were synthesized via the low‐temperature solution polycondensation of 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride and 4,4′‐[sulfonylbis(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)dioxy]dibenzoyl chloride with three bis(o‐aminophenol)s including 4,4′‐diamino‐3,3′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,3′‐diamino‐4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl, and 2,2‐bis(3‐diamino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane. Subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s afforded polyethersulfone benzoxazoles. Most of the poly(o‐hydroxy amide)s were soluble in polar organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone; however, the polybenzoxazoles without the hexafluoroisopropylidene group were organic‐insoluble. The polybenzoxazoles exhibited glass‐transition temperatures (Tg) in the range of 219–282 °C by DSC and softening temperatures (Ts) of 242–320 °C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that most polybenzoxazoles were stable up to 450 °C in air or nitrogen. The 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded in the ranges of 474–593 °C in air and 478–643 °C in nitrogen. The methyl‐substituted polybenzoxazoles had higher Tg's but lower Ts's and initial decomposition temperatures compared with the corresponding unsubstituted polybenzoxazoles. For a comparative purpose, the synthesis and characterization of a series of sulfonyl polybenzoxazoles without the ether group that derived from 4,4′‐sulfonyldibenzoyl chloride and bis(o‐aminophenol)s were also reported.