THE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A POLY(MALEIMIDE-ETHER) CONTAINING PENDENT THIOPHENE RINGS

The preparation of a poly(maleimide-ether) containing pendent thiophene rings via the reaction of 2-(3-thienylmethyl)-1,3-N,N'-bis(3,4-dichloromaleimido)propane with 1,4-dihydroxybenzene is described. The novel 2-substituted-1,3-N,N'-bis(3,4-dichloromaleimido)propanes were obtained by allowing their corresponding diamine hydrochlorides to react with 3,4-dichloromaleic anhydride in acetic acid in the presence of sodium methoxide. The diamine hydrochlorides were prepared by the reduction of their respective diamides. The poly (maleimide-ether)s were fully characterized and C-13-NMR spectroscopy was used to confirm the microstructure of the materials. The properties of the thiophene substituted polymer are compared with model poly (maleimide-ether)s. Electrochemical studies indicated that the thiophene rings in the thiophene-substituted poly(maleimide-ether) were not electroactive.