New transparent and thermally stable cardo poly(ether imide)s derived from 10,10-bis[4-(4-amino-2-pyridinoxy)phenyl]-9(10H)-anthrone

A new diamine bearing flexible ether, rigid pyridine, and bulky anthrone pendent group, 10,10-bis[4-(4-amino-2-pyridinoxy)phenyl]-9(10 H)-anthrone (BAPPA), was prepared in three steps from anthrone. BAPPA was reacted with six conventional aromatic dianhydrides in N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) to form the corresponding new poly(ether imide)s (PEIs) via the poly(ether amic acid) (PEAA) precursors with inherent viscosities ranging from 0.85 dL g−1 to 1.26 dL g−1 and thermal imidization. All the PEAAs could be cast from DMAc solution and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough PEI films with tensile strength of 72.2–112.4 MPa, tensile modulus of 1.8–2.1 GPa, and elongation at break of 10–18%. These PEIs were predominantly amorphous and displayed excellent thermal stability with the glass transition temperature of 290–388°C, the 5% weight loss temperature of 480–514°C, and the residue of 68–43% at 800°C in nitrogen. The PEIs derived from 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride and 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphathalic anhydride exhibited excellent solubility in organic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, DMAc, N, N-dimethylformamide, pyridine, and even in tetrahydrofuran. Meanwhile, these PEIs also exhibited high optical transparency with the ultraviolet cutoff wavelength in the 374–427 nm range and the wavelength of 80% transparency in the range of 468–493 nm.

High-performance polyimides based on pyridine and xanthene pendant groups; synthesis, characterization, photoactivity, thermal, antibacterial, and Cr(VI) ion adsorption properties

A group of new polyimides (PIs) containing xanthene bulky groups and heterocyclic pyridine ring were synthesized by polycondensation reaction by using new symmetric and asymmetric diamines with available dianhydrides. The prepared diamines and PIs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, elemental analysis, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The PIs have desirable solubility in common aprotic solvents like dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide, and pyridine as a less polar solvent. The PIs with inherent viscosities in the range of 0.51–0.72 dL/g were amorphous in nature, showed glass transition temperatures ( Tgs) of about 270–300°C, and 10% weight loss at temperatures 384–443°C. They showed fluorescence emission (quantum yield 7–12%) due to the presence of xanthene and pyridine groups in their structure. The prepared PIs showed tensile strength of 81–91 MPa with elongation at break of 19–23%. The antibacterial properties of the PIs against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria and funguses were investigated. Also, a membrane of PI prepared by electrospinning method was used for the removal of different concentrations of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated poly(ether imide)s containing pyridine and/or phenylphosphine oxide moieties

4-(4-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,6-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]pyridine (9FPBAPP), as a new aromatic diamine, was prepared by a modified Chichibabin reaction of 4-(4-nitro-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)acetophenone with 4-triflouromethylbenzaldehyde, followed by a catalytic reduction. A series of fluorinated poly(ether imide)s containing pyridine and/or phenylphosphine oxide moieties were prepared from bis(3-aminophenyl)phenylphosphine oxide (BAPPO), 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA), and 9FPBAPP via a conventional two-step thermal imidization procedure with various mole ratios of BAPPO and 9FPBAPP. All the polymers were amorphous and soluble in common organic solvents such as N, N-dimethylacetamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and had Tg’s of 277–285°C, 5% weight loss temperature of 521–550°C in nitrogen. Furthermore, high char yields and good limited oxygen index values indicated that these polymers exhibited good thermal stability and flame-retardant property. Tough and flexible polymer films also had good mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 75–99 MPa, tensile moduli of 1.1–1.6 GPa, and elongations at break of 12%–24% and low dielectric constants of 2.81–3.53 (1 MHz), as well as high optical transparency with the ultraviolet cutoff wavelength in the range of 350–384 nm.