Abstract: A method of making diimide and dianhydride that includes contacting a nitro or halo N-substituted phthalimide with bisphenol in polar aprotic solvents, such as dimethylsulfoxide and sodium hydride to provide high conversion to a diimide; precipitating the product in acetic acid solution and filtration; treating the resulting solid, N-substituted diimide with a carboxylic acid and substituted or unsubstituted dimethyl sulfoxide in an aqueous medium to provide a reaction mixture including tetra acid, triacid, imide diacid and diimide along with substituted or unsubstituted acetic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide and their derivatives. The method includes the isolation of tetra acid by precipitation in water followed by centrifuge or filtration. The tetra acid is converted into the corresponding dianhydride. The dianhydride prepared by the method are also described as precursor to make polyetherimide.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic bisimide includes reacting a dialkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound with an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide to form a product mixture including the aromatic bisimide. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimide includes 4-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, 3-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide in an amount of 1-10000 ppm. The aromatic bisimide can be obtained in a yield of greater than 75%, or 90-99.8%. A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide, a polyetherimide, and an article including the polyetherimide are also disclosed. A mixed acid nitration process for the preparation of an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide is also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide copolymer composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and copolymerizing the bis(phthalimide), a substituted aromatic compound, and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide copolymer. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic bisimide includes reacting a dialkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound with an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide to form a product mixture including the aromatic bisimide. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimide includes 4-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, 3-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide in an amount of 1-10000 ppm. The aromatic bisimide can be obtained in a yield of greater than 75%, or 90-99.8%. A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide, a polyetherimide, and an article including the polyetherimide are also disclosed. A mixed acid nitration process for the preparation of an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide is also described.

Abstract: A one-pot method for making a polyetherimide includes contacting in a reaction vessel a reactive substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in a polar aprotic solvent to provide a reaction mixture including a substituted bisphthalimide. The method further includes adding to the reaction mixture in the same reaction vessel an aromatic dihydroxy compound, a base, and optionally, a phase transfer catalyst to provide a product mixture including the polyetherimide. A polyetherimide made by the method is also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide copolymer composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and copolymerizing the bis(phthalimide), a substituted aromatic compound, and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide copolymer. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide copolymer composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and copolymerizing the bis(phthalimide), a substituted aromatic compound, and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide copolymer. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a metal salt of a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound comprises: contacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a base comprising a metal cation in molten diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane to provide a mixture comprising water, diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane, and a metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound; and removing water from the mixture in the absence of an azeotrope solvent to provide the metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound that contains less than 3,000 ppm of water.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a metal salt of a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound comprises reacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a base comprising a metal cation in an aqueous medium to provide a mixture comprising water and a metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound; contacting the mixture with a substantially water-immiscible solvent at a temperature greater than the boiling point of water at a prevailing pressure; introducing an optionally substituted C1-6 aliphatic alcohol; and removing water and the alcohol to provide a slurry comprising the metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound and the water-immiscible solvent.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the poly merization.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a metal salt of a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound comprises: contacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a base comprising a metal cation in molten diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane to provide a mixture comprising water, diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane, and a metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound; and removing water from the mixture in the absence of an azeotrope solvent to provide the metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound that contains less than 3,000 ppm of water.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a bis(phthalimide) composition includes reacting, in the presence of molten diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, a substituted phthalic anhydride with an organic diamine. The product mixture can be directly employed in the preparation of polyetherimides and other polyether polymers.