Organosoluble and light‐colored fluorinated polyimides based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]propane and aromatic dianhydrides

Abstract

Abstract A novel fluorinated diamine monomer, 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]propane (2), was prepared through the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride with 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane in the presence of potassium carbonate, followed by catalytic reduction with hydrazine and Pd/C. Polyimides were synthesized from diamine 2 and various aromatic dianhydrides 3a–f via thermal imidization. These polymers had inherent viscosities ranging from 0.73 to 1.29 dL/g. Polyimides 5a–f were soluble in amide polar solvents and even in less polar solvents. These films had tensile strengths of 87–100 MPa, elongations to break of 8–29%, and initial moduli of 1.7–2.2 GPa. The glass transition temperatures (T g ) of 5a–f were in the range of 222–271°C, and the 10% weight loss temperatures (T 10 ) of them were all above 493°C. Compared with polyimides 6 series based on 2,2‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane (BAPP) and polyimides 7 based on 2,2‐Bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (6FBAPP), the 5 series showed better solubility and lower color intensity, dielectric constant, and lower moisture absorption. Their films had cutoff wavelengths between 363 and 404 nm, b * values ranging from 8 to 62, dielectric constants of 2.68–3.16 (1 MHz), and moisture absorptions in the range of 0.04–0.35 wt %. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 922–935, 2005