Novel sodium sulfonate-functionalized poly(ether ether ketone)s derived from 4,4′-thiodiphenol

Novel sodium sulfonate-functionalized poly(ether ether ketone)s derived from 4,4′-thiodiphenol with degree of sulfonation up to 2.0 were synthesized by nucleophilic polycondensation of various amount of 5,5′-carbonylbis(2-fluorobenzenesulfonate) (1) and 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone (2) with 4,4′-thiodiphenol (3). Component and structure of the polymers were confirmed by IR, NMR and elemental analysis. Wide angle X-ray diffraction patterns indicated an amorphous structure of the polymers. All the polymers showed excellent thermal stability and poor solubility in water.