New silicon-containing phenylquinoxaline-imide polymers

A series of new aromatic polyimides, with phenylquinoxaline rings and dimethylsilane units, has been synthesized by solution polycondensation reaction of aromatic diamines containing phenylquinoxaline groups with a dianhydride incorporating dimethylsilane linkage, namely his (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) dimethylsilane dianhydride. All polymers were easily soluble in organic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, dimethylacetamide, pyridine and chloroform, and showed high thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 480 degreesC and glass transition temperature in the range of 245-266 degreesC. Very thin coatings were deposited from polymer solutions onto silicon wafers and exhibited smooth, pinhole-free surface in atomic force microscopy investigations. These polymers showed blue fluorescence in solution and films, with a maximum in the range of 415-425 nm.