Preparation and thermal properties of dicyanovinyl end-capped reactive oligomers linked with azomethine bond

New dicyanovinyl end-capped reactive oligomers 2-5 containing flexible alky l units were prepared from the condensation reaction of diamines with 1-(p- formylphenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2-dicyanoethene (1) by forming an azomethine linka ge. Two arylate oligomers 7 and 8 containing azomethine bond were also prep ared and compared with oligomers 2-5. All the oligomers were characterized by spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The reactive oligomers showed a g ood solubility in polar aprotic solvent such as N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF ) and N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and they were partially soluble in com mon organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and acetone. Their therm al properties including melting temperature, curability and thermal stabili ties were examined. These oligomers undergo a curing reaction around 280-34 0 degrees C. Upon heating the oligomers, thermally stable and insoluble net work polymers were obtained.