SYNTHESIS OF AROMATIC POLY(ETHER KETONE)S BY NICKEL-CATALYZED COUPLING POLYMERIZATION OF AROMATIC DICHLORIDES

A facile synthesis of poly(ether ketone)s, which involves the nickel-catalyzed coupling of aromatic dichlorides containing ether-ketone structures in the presence of zinc, triphenylphosphine, and bipyridine, has been developed. Polymerizations proceeded smoothly and produced aromatic poly(ether ketone)s with inherent viscosities of up to 0.87 dL/g under mild conditions. The effects of various factors, such as amount of catalyst and ligand, reaction medium, reaction temperature, and time, were studied. Only low molecular weight polymers from the para-substituted monomers were obtained because of the precipitation of the resulting polymers. The thermogravimetry of the aromatic poly(ether ketone)s showed 10% weight loss both in air and nitrogen at 510-570 °C. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.