Microwave assisted rapid synthesis of novel optically active poly(amide-imide)s based on N-trimellitylimido-L-leucine diacid chloride and hydantoin derivatives

We have developed facile and rapid polycondensation reactions of N-trimellitylimido-L-leucine diacid chloride I with eight different derivatives of hydantoin compounds 2a-h, in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium, such as o-cresol, by using a domestic microwave oven. The polycondensation reactions proceeded rapidly-they were complete within 7-9 min(-) to produce a series of novel optically active poly(amide-imide)s (3a-h) in high yield with inherent viscosities of 0.33-0.51 dL/g. We characterized the resulting poly (amide-imide) s by elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC, TGA, and DTG), and FTIR spectroscopy, and by measuring their viscosities, specific rotations, and solubilities. All of the polymers were soluble at room temperature in polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.