Preparation and Thermal Properties of Enaryloxynitriles End-Capped Polymer Precursors

Preparation and Thermal Properties of Enaryloxynitriles End-Capped Polymer Precursors

Various enaryloxynitriles-terminated reactive polymer precursors containing rigid aromatic units were prepared from various diamines and 1-(p-formylphenyl)-1-phenyl-2,2-dicyanoethene (1). Arylate end-capped model compounds linked with azomethine bond were also prepared by reacting p-formylphenyl benzoate with diamines to compare the curing ability. The oligomers were highly soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide and N-methyl-2 -pyrrolidinone. They generally showed an exothermic curing process between $280-350^{\circ}C$, attributable to the thermal crosslinking of the dicyanovinyl group in DSC analysis, and no weight loss at curing temperature. Upon heating the polymer precursors, heat-resistant and insoluble network polymers were obtained. Thermogravimetric analyses of the precursors containing rigid aromatic units showed thermal stability with a 77-92% residual weight at $500^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen.