FUNCTIONAL ETHYNYL-SUBSTITUTED POLYSULFONES BY BROMINATION-ALKYNYLATION SUITABLE AS GAS PERMSELECTIVE MEMBRANES

Poly(arylene ether sulfone) has been successfully modified by a proces s of bromination followed by displacement of bromine with substituted acetylenes using a palladium catalyst. The degree of bromination and a lkynylation, determined by H-1-NMR, was in the range of 98-50% and 92- 45%, respectively. FT-IR and C-13-NMR confirmed the structure of the p olymers. The final aim was to obtain a new material employable as a me mbrane for gas separation. Permeation properties of substituted poly(a rylene ether sulfone) to carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, and nitrogen were evaluated. Asymmetric membranes of alkynylated polymer were prep ared by phase inversion technique. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.