Novel thermally stable polyimides based on flexible diamine: synthesis, characterization, and properties

A novel diamine with built-in sulfone, ether, and amide structure was prepared via three-step reactions. Nucleophilic reaction of 4-aminophenol with 4-nitrobenzoyl chloride in the presence of propylene oxide led to preparation of N-(4-hydroxy phenyl)-4-nitrobenzamide (HPNB). The nitro group of this compound was reduced with hydrazine and Pd/C to afford 4-amino-N-(4-hydroxy phenyl)benzamide (AHPB). Two moles of AHPB were reacted with bis-(4-chloro phenyl)sulfone to provide a novel sulfone ether amide diamine (SEAD). All the prepared compounds were characterized by common spectroscopic methods. The prepared diamine (SEAD) used to prepare related polyimides by reaction with different aromatic dianhydrides. The obtained poly(sulfone ether amide imide)s were characterized and their properties were studied.