Novel para-linked and CF3-substituted poly(amide-ether-imidazole)s: Solubility, optical and thermal properties

A new photoactive fluorinated diamine, 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4,5-bis(4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl)imidazole (TFIA), was synthesized and used for preparation of novel fluorinated poly(amide-ether-imidazole)s (PAEIs) by using direct polycondensation of the diamine with various dicarboxylic acids. The resulting PAEIs were amorphous and had intrinsic viscosity [eta] in the range of 0.68-0.80 dL/g. The weight average (M,) and number average (M-n) molecular weights of one of the polymer, measured by GPC, were 18,600 g/mol and 11,500 g/mol, respectively. These polymers were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents and formed low-colored and flexible thin films via solution casting. Their values of cut-off wavelength (lambda(o)) were in the range of 380-390 nm, and all PAEIs films exhibited high optical transparency. According to thermal analysis, these polymers exhibited glass transition temperatures (T-g)s in the range of 160-250 degrees C, initial decomposition temperature (T-i) from 295 to 400 degrees C and temperature of 10% weight loss (T-10%) from 400 to 490 degrees C in N-2. These polymers exhibited strong UV-vis absorption at 310 nm in solution and in films and their fluorescence emission peaks appeared around 430-520 nm with the quantum yields in solution varied from 10% to 29%. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.