Synthesis and characterization of new polyimides containing pendent pentadecyl chains

Polymers without Petrochemicals: Sustainable Routes to Conventional Monomers

Access to a wide range of plastic materials has been rationalized by the increased demand from growing populations and the development of high-throughput production systems. Plastic materials at low costs with reliable properties have been utilized in many everyday products. Multibillion-dollar companies are established around these plastic materials, and each polymer takes years to optimize, secure intellectual property, comply with the regulatory bodies such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and the Environmental Protection Agency and develop consumer confidence. Therefore, developing a fully sustainable new plastic material with even a slightly different chemical structure is a costly and long process. Hence, the production of the common plastic materials with exactly the same chemical structures that does not require any new registration processes better reflects the reality of how to address the critical future of sustainable plastics. In this review, we have highlighted the very recent examples on the synthesis of common monomers using chemicals from sustainable feedstocks that can be used as a like-for-like substitute to prepare conventional petrochemical-free thermoplastics.

Processable poly(ether ether ketone imide)s

New aromatic poly(ether ether ketone imide)s, [PEEKimide]s, were synthesized successfully from 1,3-bis-4′-(4″-aminophenoxy benzoyl) benzene and various commercially available aromatic dianhydrides, such as pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (OPDA) and 4,4′-(hexafluro isoproylidene) diphthalic anhydride (HFDA), by two step polycondensation method. These PEEKimides were characterized by FT-IR, solubility in organic solvents, inherent viscosity, DSC, TGA and WXRD. Inherent viscosities of the precursor poly(ether ether ketone amic acid)s were in the range of 0.23–0.40 dl/g in DMF, indicating formation of moderate to high molecular weights. These poly(ether ether ketone imide)s showed good solubility in polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and had glass transition temperatures in the range 245–279°C. Poly(ether ether ketone imide)s showed no weight loss below 280°C; temperatures for 10% weight loss (T10) were in the range of 406–483°C and char yields at 800°C were 17–34%, indicating their good thermal stability. All these poly(ether ether ketone imide)s were amorphous in nature, as per patterns of WXRD which exhibited diffuse broad halos at (2θ = 10–30°) and amorphous nature was reflected in polymer’s good solubility in common organic solvents.

Synthesis and characterization of polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s containing multiple arylene ether linkages and pendent pentadecyl chains

A new diacylhydrazide monomer, namely, 4-(4-(4-(4-(hydrazinocarbonyl)phenoxy)-2-pentadecylphenoxy)phenoxy) benzohydrazide (HPPDPB), was synthesized starting from 4-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3-pentadecylphenol. HPPDPB was polycondensed with terephthalic acid chloride (TPC), isophthalic acid chloride (IPC) and a mixture of TPC and IPC (50:50 mol%) to obtain polyhydrazides containing multiple arylene ether linkages in the backbone and pendent pentadecyl chains. Polyhydrazides were subsequently cyclized in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride to obtain the corresponding poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s. Polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s exhibited inherent viscosities in the range 0.65–0.72 dL g−1 and 0.54–0.62 dL g−1, respectively, which indicated the formation of reasonably high-molecular weight polymers. Polyhydrazides were soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and pyridine whereas poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s exhibited excellent solubility even in common organic solvents such as chloroform, dichloromethane and tetrahydrofuran. Tough, transparent and flexible films of polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s could be cast from DMAc and chloroform solutions, respectively. X-Ray diffraction studies revealed amorphous nature of polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s and the formation of layered structure was observed due to ordered packing of pentadecyl chains. The 10% decomposition temperature ( T10) values for poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s were in the range 425–440°C indicating their good thermal stability. Glass transition temperature ( Tg) values of polyhydrazides and poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s were in the range 175–192°C and 92–103°C, respectively. The excellent solubility characteristics and the large gap between Tg (92–103°C) and T10 (425–440°C) values give poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)-containing pendent pentadecyl chains better opportunities for processability.

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble polyimides based on pyridine unit with flexible linkages

A series of new polyimides were synthesized by condensation of pyridine-bridged novel diamine monomers, bis(4-aminobenzoyloxy-3,5-dimethyl phenyl)-3′-pyridyl methane and 2,6-bis(2-amino-3-pyridyloxy)pyridine, with various aromatic anhydrides. The monomers and precursors were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopic techniques. The structure of the polymers were characterized by FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and the physical properties of the polymers, including the glass transition temperature (in the range of 199–319°C), thermal and thermo-oxidative stability (10% weight loss temperature is in the range of 375–539°C in air and 403–542°C in nitrogen atmospheres), the char yield in the range of 37.91–56.65% at 800°C, solubility, solution viscosity (0.81–1.81), molecular weight data, optical properties, crystallinity, mechanical properties like tensile strength (86–102 MPa), elongation at break (12.5–16.5%), tensile modulus (1.2–1.8 GPa), and moisture absorption were also studied.

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic poly(amides) based on 3,5-diamino-N-cyclopropylbenzamide

Three aromatic poly(amides) (PAs) were prepared, one of them containing a dimethyldiphenylsilane unit from a new aromatic diamine monomer with a bulky pendant polar group.

Novel aromatic polyimides derived from 2,8-di(3-aminophenyl)dibenzofuran. Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of properties

Three aromatic polyimides (PIs) were prepared from a new aromatic diamine monomer derived from the rigid ring dibenzofuran.

Naturally occurring phenolic sources: monomers and polymers

Phenolic compounds sourced from agro-based feedstock, viz. cashew nut shell liquid, lignin, tannin, palm oil, and coconut shell tar, have come up as sustainable alternatives to petro-based feedstock. This review explores their utility as green polymer feedstock with citation of ~ 600 references.

High organosolubility of novel asymmetric polyimides-containing benzimidazole rings

Two tetramethyl-substituted diphenylmethane diamines, α,α-bis(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl) phenylmethane (BADP) and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TMDA), were synthesized. Two series of novel soluble polyimides (PIs) with high glass transition temperature ( Tg) were derived from 3,3′4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride with 6,4′-diamino-2-phenylbenzimidazole and BADP (or TMDA) via one-pot synthesis using anhydrous N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone as a solvent. Precipitation or gelation does not occur during polymerization and imidization, and the resulting products dissolve well in polar aprotic solvents and phenolic solvents. The two series of PI films have good transparency in the visible light region, with a cutoff wavelength at 365 nm and higher than 50% of the transmittance at 450 nm. Tgs are in the range of 381–431°C, and 10% weight loss in nitrogen occurs above 530°C in all cases. Upon increasing BADP (or TMDA) moieties content, the Tg values decrease, whereas the thermal stability tends to increase. Moreover, the PIs-containing TMDA units have a higher thermal stability than those containing BADP units.

New organosoluble aromatic poly(esterimide)s containing pendent pentadecyl chains

A new diimide dicarboxylic acid, namely 2,2′-(4-pentadecyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid), containing preformed imide rings and pentadecyl chain, was synthesized by the reaction of 4-pentadecylbenzene-1,3-diamine with trimellitic anhydride. A series of new aromatic poly(esterimide)s (PEIs) was synthesized using diphenylchlorophosphate-activated direct polycondensation of 2,2′-(4-pentadecyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid), with five commercially available bisphenols, namely 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol (I), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (II), 4,4′-oxydiphenol (III), 4,4′-biphenol (IV), and 4,4′-(9-fluorenylidene)diphenol (V) in the presence of pyridine and lithium chloride. Inherent viscosities of PEIs were in the range 0.54–0.83 dL g−1 in chloroform (CHCl3) at 30 ± 0.1°C. PEIs containing pendent pentadecyl chains were soluble in organic solvents such as CHCl3, m-cresol, N, N-dimethylacetamide, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, pyridine, and nitrobenzene. Tough, transparent, and flexible films of PEIs could be cast from their CHCl3 solutions. PEIs exhibited glass transition temperature in the range 145–198°C. The temperature at 10% weight loss of PEIs, determined by thermogravimetric analysis under the nitrogen atmosphere, was in the range of 450–470°C indicating good thermal stability.

Synthesis and characterization of new organosoluble aromatic polyamides and polyazomethines containing pendent pentadecyl chains

New aromatic polyamides and polyazomethines containing pendent pentadecyl chains were synthesized by polycondensation of pentadecylbenzene-1,3-diamine with (i) four commercially available aromatic diacids, viz., biphenyl-4,4′dicarboxylic acid, 4,4′-oxybisbenzoic acid, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid, and (ii) dialdehydes, viz., terephthaldehyde, isophthaldehyde and a 50 : 50 mol% mixture of terephthaldehyde, and isophthaldehyde, respectively. Inherent viscosities of polyamides and polyazomethines were in the range 0.35–0.56 dL g−1 and 0.33–0.38 dL g−1, respectively, indicating the formation of medium molecular weight polymers. The presence of pendent pentadecyl chains in polyamides and polyazomethines led to an improvement in their solubility in organic solvents. Polyamides could be cast into flexible, transparent and tough films from their solution in N, N-dimethylacetamide while polyazomethines could be solution cast into transparent, flexible and stretchable films from their CHCl3 solution. 1H-NMR studies based on amide proton signals and azomethine proton signals indicated the presence of constitutional isomerism in the polyamides and polyazomethines. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited broad halo indicating that the polymers were amorphous in nature. X-ray diffractograms also displayed sharp reflections in the small angle region (2 θ ≈ 3°) indicating the formation of layered structure arising from packing of flexible pentadecyl chains. The glass transition ( Tg) temperatures of polyamides were in the range 169–215 °C while Tg values for polyazomethines were in the range 16–55 °C. The temperature for the 10% weight loss of polyamides and polyazomethines were in the range 430–460 °C and 425–440 °C, respectively, in a nitrogen atmosphere, which indicated their good thermal stability. Polyazomethines were also characterized by UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy and optical band gap ( Eg) values, calculated according to the maximum of the UV absorption, were found to be in the range 2.82–3.10 eV.