Preparation and characterization of organosoluble polyimides based on 1,1-bis[4-(3,4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane and commercial aromatic dianhydrides

A bis(ether amine) III-A containing a cyclohexane cardo group, 1,1-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]cyclohexane, was synthesized and used as a monomer to prepare polyimides VI-A with six commercial dianhydrides via three different procedures. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.83–1.69 dL g⁻¹ and were thermally or chemically converted into polyimides. Polyimides were also prepared by high-temperature direct polymerization in m-cresol and had inherent viscosities higher than the thermally or chemically cyclodehydrated ones. To improve the solubility of polyimides, six copolyimides were also synthesized from bis(ether amine) III-A with a pair of dianhydrides, which contained 3,3′,4,4′-diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride or 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride. Series VI-A polyimides were characterized by the good physical properties of their film-forming ability, thermal stability, and tensile properties. A comparative study of the properties, with the corresponding polyimides derived from 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, is also presented. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2750–2759, 2001