Positive Photoreactive Polyimides. II. Preparation and Characterization of Polyimide Precursors Containing α-(2-Nitrophenyl)ethyl Ester Side Chains

Abstract The monomers were derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and α-(2-nitrophenyl)ethanol, which was prepared by selective reduction of 2-nitroacetophenone. Polyimide precursors were synthesized by an interfacial polycondensation technique. Their thermal properties in nitrogen were studied by dynamic thermogravimetry. The photore-arrangement of 2-nitrobenzyl ester having a methyl group at the α-position compared to that of the unsubstituted ester was investigated by infrared spectrophotometry. The polymers obtained in this study gave a high proportion of photorearrangement to show high sensitivity. The exposed areas dissolved in 2% aqueous KOH, forming high resolution patterns because they did not swell during the developing process.