New copolymers containing imide and different heterocyclic units such
as oxadiazole, benzoxazole, or pyridazine, together with hexafluoroiso
propylidene groups, have been synthesized by solution polycondensation
of appropriate aromatic diamines with diacid chlorides incorporating
preformed imide rings and hexafluoroisopropylidene bridges. In the cas
e of oxadiazole-imide copolymers and pyridazine-imide copolymers, arom
atic diamines containing preformed oxadiazole or pyridazine, respectiv
ely, have been used, while in the case of benzoxazole-imide copolymers
the benzoxazole unit was formed during the polycondensation reaction
between bis(o-hydroxy-amine)s and the above-mentioned diacid chlorides
. Also, copolyimides containing pendant cyano groups have been prepare
d from aromatic diamines containing cyano substituents with the same d
iacid chlorides. Solubility, film-forming ability, thermal stability,
and electrical insulating properties of all these compounds are discus
sed and compared with those of related polymers which do not contain h
exafluoroisopropylidene groups, and with those of other heterocyclic p
olymers previously reported.