SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW POLY(ARYLENE ETHER)S CONTAININGHETEROCYCLIC UNITS .2.

A series of new poly(arylene ether)s, containing naphthalene, pyridine , and quinoline units have been prepared by solution condensation poly merization. The synthesis involves nucleophilic displacement of aromat ic dihalides with aromatic potassium bisphenates in an anhydrous dipol ar aprotic solvent at elevated temperatures. The polymers, having inhe rent viscosity from 0.24 to 1.32 dL/g, were obtained in quantitative y ield, have excellent thermal stability as shown by 10% weight loss tem peratures in nitrogen and air (above 450 and 430 degrees C, respective ly) and high glass transition temperatures (in the range of 150-220 de grees C). The introduction of quinoline moieties in the polymer backbo ne positively influences the thermal properties, such as high T-g/T-m ratios. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.