Synthesis and properties of polyamides with [60]fullerene in the main chain

A novel series of polyamides having [60]fullerene moieties in the main chai n were synthesized by a direct polycondensation of [60]fullerenobis(acetic acid) or [60] fullerenobis(acetic acid)/isophthalic acid mixture with a dia mine in the presence of triphenyl phosphite and pyridine. Various propertie s of the polyamides were characterized by means of IR, GPC, TGA, DSC, UV-vi sible, and photoluminescence. The molecular weight M-w of the [60]fullerene -containing polyamides was observed in the range from about 300,000 to 3,00 0; upon the changing of the ratio of [60]fullerenobis(acetic acid)/isophtha lic acid in the starting mixture, the resulting M-w decreased with increasi ng the ratio. Most of the thermal and optical properties gradually changed as the ratio changed; the major optical absorption band in visible range ex hibited a significant tailing, which shifted toward a longer wavelength, wh ile the photoluminescence spectrum red-shifted with increasing [60]fulleren ee content. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.