Synthesis of soluble and thermally stable poly(N-arylenebenzimidazole)s

Six new bis(benzimidazolyl) monomers containing ether, sulfonyl and ketone groups were synthesized efficiently. A series of poly( N -arylenebenzimidazole)s were prepared using an aromatic nucleophilic displacement reaction that removed the N–H sites from the novel bis(benzimidazolyl) derivatives with activated aromatic difluorides in sulfolane. The reaction was carried out at 210 °C in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. All resulting polymers showed essentially amorphous patterns. This was consistent with the calculated results. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric measurements showed that the polymers had high glass transition temperatures (>240 °C), good thermostability and high decomposition temperatures (>400 °C). These novel polymers also showed easy solubility. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry