Value Added Abstract
Alexander A. Kuznetsov
Abstract
Review of the authors' works on the advanced synthesis of polyimides (PIs)- by the method of “one pot” high-temperature polycondensation in catalytic solvent - molten benzoic acid (BA). Compared to known PIs synthesis from diamines and tetracarboxylic acids dianhydrides in inert high-boiling solvents (m-cresol, nitrobenzene), synthesis in molten BA can be carried out under mild conditions (140°C, 1-2 h instead of 180-200, 3-6 h) to give completely imidized high molecular weight PIs. Due to specific mechanism, including catalysis of reversible polyamic acid moieties formation, the process proceeds as a single step irreversible reaction. The offered approach was successfully applied for obtaining linear copolyimides with controlled microstructure (from random to multiblock). Approach is useful also for synthesis of polyimide molecules of different topology including highly branched (HB) PIs (via Bn+A2 scheme), multi-arm polyimide stars with HB core (via (Bn+A2)+AB scheme], and star-shaped oligoimides (SOI) with narrow MWD and controlled average length of arms (via Bn+AB scheme). Due to presence of several reactive terminal amino groups in SOI as well as that in HBPI, the objects synthesized can be considered as chemical platform for further development of novel functional materials on their base.