Synthesis and characterization of poly(aryl ether ketone) with trifluoromethyl-substituted benzene in the side chain

New bisphenol monomer, (4-(4′-trifluoromethyl)phenoxyphenyl)hydroquinone, was prepared in a three-step synthesis. A series of poly(aryl ether ketone)s were derived from this bisphenol via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensation with various bisfluoro compounds. The polycondensations proceeded quantitatively in tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) in the presence of an excess of potassium carbonate as a condensation reagent were carried out at 210 °C to quantitatively afford the corresponding poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing 4,(4′-trifluoromethyl) phenoxyphenyl side chain. Thermal analyses showed that the polymers have Tgs ranging from 140 to 177 °C and thermal stability in air up with initial weight losses above 550 °C. The solubility of the polymers was improved by the introduction of bulky pendant group. All the polymers had low dielectric constants of 2.67-2.79 at 1 MHz.