Synthesis of soluble branched polyimides derived from an ABB′ monomer

A novel ABB' monomer, an isomeric mixture of 4-[4-(2,4-diaminophenoxy)phenoxy]phthalic acid 2-methyl ester, was successfully prepared. The direct polycondensation of the ABB' monomer was carried out to form polyamic acid monomethyl ester as a precursor with an inherent viscosity of 0.30 dL/g and a number-average molecular weight of 12,000. The degree of branching of the precursor, determined by H-1 NMR, was 0.07. The low degree of branching was caused by the differences in the reactivities of the amino groups. The shape factor was calculated to be 0.72. End-modified reactions with acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride, and phthalic anhydride were carried out. After the chemical imidization of the end-modified precursors, end-modified polyimides were successfully prepared. The end-modified polyimides were soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide (DMF), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. On the basis of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the polyimides, the 5 wt % thermal loss temperatures were determined to be 400-520 degreesC, and the glass-transition temperatures were determined to be 200-258 degreesC. According to the X-ray diffraction measurements, the end-modified polyimides were amorphous. A strong but brittle film was prepared from an acetamide end-modified polyimide solution, via casting from a DMF solution, with a tensile strength of 46 MPa, an elongation at break of 4%, and a modulus of 1.3 GPa. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.