SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL POLYARYLATES FROM 2,5-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)-3,4-DIPHENYLPYRROLE AND VARIOUS AROMATIC DICARBOXYLIC-ACIDS

A new tetraphenylated heterocylic diol, 2,5-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-diphenylpyrrole, was synthesized in three steps starting from 4-methoxydeoxybenzoin. The tetraphenylpyrrole-containing polyarylates having inherent viscosities of 0.28-0.88 dL/g were prepared from the diol and various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides by both phase transfer catalyzed two-phase polycondensation and high temperature solution polymerization methods. All the polyarylates were semi-crystalline, and were readily soluble in a variety of solvents including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, m-cresol, pyridine, and 1,4-dioxane. These polymers had glass transition temperatures in the range of 223-279-degrees-C, with no weight loss below 400-degrees-C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.