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