Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridine-Based Polyurethanes

A series of novel linear segmented polyurethanes (PUs) containing a pyridine unit in the main chain have been synthesized by polycondensation reaction of various diisocyanates, 4,4'-diphenyl-methane diisocyanate (MDI), toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), with 4,4'-{pyridine-2,6-diylbis[nitrilomethylylidene]}diphenol-based diol. The Structure of the diol and segmented PUs were established by NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The thermal behavior of the synthesized PUs was further characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All PUs were soluble in polar aprotic solvents. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009