Synthesis and characterisation of organosoluble polyimides containing the anisyl moiety

A new type of diamine monomer containing the anisyl moiety was synthesized via a straightforward one-step procedure.Anisaldehyde was reacted with 2,6-dimethylaniline in the presence of dry HCl to attain bis(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenyl)anisylmethane. A series of organo-soluble polyimides were prepared using the anisyl diamine and various aromatic dianhydrides via a two step method involving thermal imidization. All polyimides are soluble in strong polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrollidone, N,N-Dimethylformamide, and NN-DimethylAcetamide. The polyimides show excellent thermal stability and good mechanical properties. The glass transition temperatures of the polyimides are in the range 265-294degreesC. The tensile strengths are in the range 79-99 MPa and the temperatures at which 10 % weight loss occurs are in the range 460-496 degreesC. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.