Abstract: There is disclosed a composite of 1) a polymer containing repeating units derived from a vinyl carboxylic ester having at least one organo terminated poly(alkylene oxide) side chain with the proviso that the poly(alkylene oxide) is present in an amount greater than 35 mole percent of the total of all backbone monomer units and alkylene oxide units in the polymer and 2) a metal oxide wherein the metal oxide comprises between about 1 and about 60 percent by weight of the composite. The composites can be made by a process comprising the steps of:combining the described polymer and a metal oxide precursor in a solvent solution;casting or coating the resulting solution onto a substrate;curing the resulting sample to form a composite of the polymer and the metal oxide.Optionally, the composite can be removed from the substrate to form a transparent free standing film. These composites have a variety of desirable properties.

Abstract: Cyclic imides are prepared by reacting carbon monoxide with an ortho dihalide aromatic compound or a cis-1,2-vinyl dihalide and an amide in the presence of palladium catalyst and a base. The process is preferably conducted in the presence of a dipolar aprotic solvent as a liquid reaction medium.