Synthesis and characterization of novel organosoluble and thermally stable polyamides bearing triptycene in their backbones

New triptycene-containing polyamides were prepared from 1,4-bis(4-carboxyphenoxy) triptycene with aromatic diamines or from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy) triptycene with aromatic dicarboxylic acids via the phosphorylation polyamidation reaction. These polyamides were essentially amorphous and showed a significantly increased solubility as compared with their analogs without the triptycene units. All the polyamides could be solution-cast into flexible and tough films. They also showed good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures of 252-295 degrees C and 10 % weight loss temperatures higher than 540 degrees C. These polyamides are considered to be promising processable high-temperature polymeric materials.