Synthesis and characterization of new soluble polyesters derived from various cardo bisphenols by solution polycondensation

A series of new polyesters was prepared from terephthaloyl (or isophthaloyl ) chloride acid with various cardo bisphenols on solution polycondensation in nitrobenzene using pyridine as hydrogen chloride quencher at 150 degrees C. These polyesters were produced with inherent viscosities of 0.32-0.49 dL g-l. Most of these polyesters exhibited excellent solubility in a variety of solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, tetrachloroetha ne, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, m- cresol, and o-chlorophenol. The polyesters containing cardo groups includin g diphenylmethylene, tricyclo[5.2. 1.0(2.6)]decyl, tert-butylcyclohexyl, ph enylcyclohexyl, and cyclododecyl groups exhibited better solubility than bi sphenol A-based polyesters. These polymers showed glass transition temperat ures (T-g's) between 185 degreesC and 243 degreesC and decomposition temper atures at 10% weight loss ranging from 406 degreesC to 472 degreesC in nitr ogen. These cardo polyesters exhibited higher T-g's and better solubility t han bisphenol A-based polyesters. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.