Synthesis and characterization of novel optically active poly(amide–imide)s via direct amidation

N,N′-Pyromelliticdiimido-di-l-methionine (3) was prepared from the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (1) with l-methionine (2) in glacial acetic acid and pyridine solution at refluxing temperature. The direct polycondensation reaction of the monomer diimide–diacid (3) with 1,3-phenylenediamine (4a), 1,4-phenylenediamine (4b), 2,6-diaminopyridine (4c), 3,5-diaminopyridine (4d), 4,4′-diaminodiphenylether (4e) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (4f) was carried out in a medium consisting of triphenyl phosphate, N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, pyridine and calcium chloride. The resulting poly(amide–imide)s having inherent viscosities 0.45–0.53 dl g−1 were obtained in high yields and are optically active and thermally stable. All of the above compounds were fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and specific rotation. Some structural characterization and physical properties of these new optically active poly(amide–imide)s are reported.