Syntheses of semicrystalline aromatic poly(thioether thioether ketone)s (PTTK and PTBTK) and their copolymers with ether analogues

One-pot polymerization between bis(N,N'-dimethyl-S-carbamate)s and activated dihalo compounds was extended to the synthesis of semicrystalline poly(arylene thioether)s as well as their copolymers. Aromatic poly(thioether thioether ketone) (PTTK) and poly(thioether biphenyl thioether ketone) (PTBTK) were synthesized from 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone and bis(N,N'-dimethyl-S-carbamate)s prepared from hydroquinone and 4,4'-biphenol via the Newman-Kwart rearrangement reaction, respectively. Random copolymers were prepared by copolymerization of 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone with a mixture of bis(N,N'-dimethyl-S-carbamate)s or with a bis(N,N'-dimethyl-S-carbamate) and hydroquinone or 4,4'-biphenol. The reactions were carried out in benzophenone solution in the presence of a mixture of Cs2CO3 and CaCO3 as the bases at polymerization temperatures ranging from 200 to 300 degrees C in order to keep the products in solution. All the polymers obtained were semicrystalline, as evidenced from the sharp melting points from the DSC scans for the polymers as prepared. However, the crystallization speeds for these polymers are very different depending on the compositions. The relationships between T-g, T-m, and structures are discussed. PTTK has a T-g of 136 degrees C, T-m of 304 degrees C, and an inherent viscosity of 0.32 dL/g in concentrated sulfuric acid, while PTBTK has a T-g of 173 degrees C, T-m of 351 degrees C, and an inherent viscosity of 0.46 dL/g.