Synthesis of poly(ether sulfone)s by self-polycondensation of AB-type monomers

Abstract

Self-polycondensation of AB-type monomers is an advantageous route to produce high-molecular-weight polymers without considerable adjustment in the mole ratio of the functionalities. Furthermore, the resulting polymers incorporate two different functional groups at the chain ends that enable the preparation of AB- and ABC-type block copolymers. In this study, poly(ether sulfone)s (PESs) were prepared via self-polycondensation of four AB-type monomers. The reactivity of the AB-type monomers was systematically investigated through model reactions and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, which suggested that the novel AB-type monomers, 4-chloro-4′-(hydroxyphenyloxy) diphenylsulfone (monomer C) and 4-fluoro-4′-(hydroxyphenyloxy) diphenylsulfone (monomer D), are highly susceptible to nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S N Ar) reactions. High-molecular-weight PESs (Mw >110 000) were obtained via the self-polycondensation of monomers C and D. The resulting PESs exhibited excellent thermal properties comparable with PESs prepared from A2 - and B2 -type monomers. © 2013 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ) All rights reserved.