AROMATIC POLYMERS OBTAINED BY PRECIPITATION POLYCONDENSATION .2. SYNTHESIS OF POLY(ETHER KETONE ETHER KETONE KETONE) (PEKEKK)

A high molecular weight, linear aromatic poly(ether ketone ether keton e ketone) (PEKEKK) has been synthesized by electrophilic Friedel-Craft s acylation condensation of 1,4-diphenoxybenzophenone with terephthalo yl chloride. The syntheses were performed as precipitation polycondens ations, and the polyketones were obtained in particle form. The viscos ity (molecular weight), shape and size of these particles were found t o be strongly dependent on the reaction conditions. For low monomer co ncentration, highly ordered needle-like particles were also obtained. The chemical structure of the polymers obtained was confirmed by H-1 a nd C-13 NMR spectroscopy, and para-substitution in aryl fragments of t he main chain was identified. Analysis of the expanded H-1 NMR spectra for the ring proton resonances reveals defect meta- and ortho-structu res. The amount and isomer ratio of these defect structures depend on the monomer concentration used.