Poly(aryl ethers) by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. I. Synthesis and properties

Abstract A series of new aromatic polyethers have been prepared by solution condensation polymerization. The synthesis involves the condensation of a dialkali metal salt of a dihydric phenol with an “activated” or negatively substituted aromatic dihalide in an anhydrous dipolar aprotic solvent at elevated temperatures. The reaction is rapid, free of side reactions, and yields polymers of excellent color. Bakelite polysulfone can be prepared in this manner by reaction of the disodium salt of bisphenol A with 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenyl sulfone in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Only dipolar aprotic solvents are useful for conducting the polymerization. Of these, DMSO and Sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1‐dioxide) are the most effective. Water or other competing nucleophiles must be absent if high molecular weight is to be obtained. Besides providing the necessary solubility, this highly polar solvent is believed to be essential in providing the rapid polymerization rates observed. The rates are further found to depend on the basicity of the bisphenol salt and upon the electron‐withdrawing power of the activating group in the dihalide. As is usual for this type of reaction, the difluorides are found to be more reactive than the corresponding dichlorides. Most of the polyethers are amorphous, rigid, tough thermoplastics with high second‐order transitions ( T g ). Thermal stability and electrical properties are noteworthy. These and other properties are described for polysulfone, and glass transitions are given for a selected list of the other polyethers.