Synthesis and characterization of aromatic poly (ether ketone)s containing cyclotriphosphazene units

Bis(4-oxybenzoic acid) tetrakis(phenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene (IUPAC name:4-[4-(carboxyphenoxy)-2,4,6,6-tetraphenoxy-1,3,5,2λ ⁵,4λ⁵,6λ ⁵-triazatriphosphinin-2-yl]oxy-benzoic acid) was synthesized and direct polycondensed with diphenylether or 1,4-diphenoxybenzene in Baton's reagent at the temperature range of 80-120°C for 3 hours to give aromatic poly(ether ketone)s. Polycondensations at 120°C gave polymer of high molecular weight. Incorporation of cyclotriphosphazene groups in the aromatic poly (ether ketone) backbone greatly enhanced the solubility of these polymers in common organic polar solvents. Thermal stabilities by TGA for two polymer samples of polymer series ranged from 390 to 354°C in nitrogen at 10% weight loss and glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranged from 81.4 to 89.6°C by DSC.