New Polyesterimides Containing Bulky, Cyclic Phosphorus Groups

A new phosphorus-containing monomer, bis(N-hydroxyethyl-phthalimidyl)-bis(9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-oxide-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-yl) methane, that contains preformed imide rings and flexible linking groups was synthesized. This compound was used to synthesize new phosphorus-containing polyesterimides by solution polycondensation with various aromatic diacide chlorides such as terephthaloyl chloride, terephthaloyl-bis-(4-oxybenzoylchloride), 4-chloroformyl-N(p-chloroformylphenyl)-phthalimide and 2,2-bis(4-chloroformyl-N-phthalimidyl)-diphenylmethane. The rates of the polycondensation reactions were calculated from kinetic investigations. The polymers were readily soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide and N,N-dimethylformamide. The polymers were analytically, spectrally and thermally characterized.