Abstract: The production of low color polyetherimides, including its intermediates, such as bisimides and diaryl diether dianhydrides, may be affected by producing an improved purity intermediate of 4-nitro-N-alkylphthalimide. A salt, such as alkali metal carbonate or alkali metal hydrogen carbonate, is added to an aqueous mixture of 4-nitro-N-alkylphthalimide and 3-nitro-N-alkylphthalimide to selectively hydrolyze the imide linkage of 3-nitro-N-alkylphthalimide forming a water-soluble acid-amide salt. An organic solvent is added to this salt mixture to phase separate 4-nitro-N-alkylphthalimide having dissolved in the organic solvent from acid-amide salt of 3-nitro-N-alkylphthalimide having dissolved in water.

Abstract: A process for making bis(ether anhydrides) employs alkylamines having low melting temperatures thus allowing for novel intermediate process steps for preparing bis(ether anhydrides). The alkylamines have alkyl groups which contain at least three carbon atoms and have boiling temperatures in the range of 48 to 250.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure. As a result of using these amines, liquid alkylamines now can be employed in the imidization process step. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared from the recovered imidization product according to this invention can now be purified using liquid/liquid extraction or vacuum distillation. The alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared according to this invention provide for displacement reactions which now can be run at a high solids level. Likewise, the exchange reaction can be run at a higher solids level, and thus achieves an efficiency level which is higher than conventional processes.

Abstract: A process for making bis(ether anhydrides) employs alkylamines having low melting temperatures thus allowing for novel intermediate process steps for preparing bis(ether anhydrides). The alkylamines have alkyl groups which contain at least three carbon atoms and have boiling temperatures in the range of 48 to 250.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure. As a result of using these amines, liquid alkylamines now can be employed in the imidization process step. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared from the recovered imidization product according to this invention can now be purified using liquid/liquid extraction or vacuum distillation. The alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared according to this invention provide for displacement reactions which now can be run at a high solids level. Likewise, the exchange reaction can be run at a higher solids level, and thus achieves an efficiency level which is higher than conventional processes.

Abstract: A process for making bis(ether anhydrides) employs alkylamines having low melting temperatures thus allowing for novel intermediate process steps for preparing bis(ether anhydrides). The alkylamines have alkyl groups which contain at least three carbon atoms and have boiling temperatures in the range of 48.degree. to 250.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure. As a result of using these amines, liquid alkylamines now can be employed in the imidization process step. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared from the recovered imidization product according to this invention can now be purified using liquid/liquid extraction or vacuum distillation. The alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared according to this invention provide for displacement reactions which now can be run at a high solids level. Likewise, the exchange reaction can be run at a higher solids level, and thus achieves an efficiency level which is higher than conventional processes.

Abstract: Tetranitromethane and other polynitrated methanes can be effectively removed from otherwise substantially organic-free nitric acid streams through the addition of substantially organic-free concentrated sulfuric acid and by, optionally, performing secondary operations such as sparging the mixed acid stream with a gas such as nitric oxide or with an oil.

Abstract: A process for making bis(ether anhydrides) employs alkylamines having low melting temperatures thus allowing for novel intermediate process steps for preparing bis(ether anhydrides). The alkylamines have alkyl groups which contain at least three carbon atoms and have boiling temperatures in the range of 48.degree. to 250.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure. As a result of using these amines, liquid alkylamines now can be employed in the imidization process step. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared from the recovered imidization product according to this invention can now be purified using liquid/liquid extraction or vacuum distillation. The alkyl nitrophthalimides prepared according to this invention provide for displacement reactions which now can be run at a high solids level. Likewise, the exchange reaction can be run at a higher solids level, and thus achieves an efficiency level which is higher than conventional processes.

Abstract: Silicone-polycarbonate block copolymers are provided resulting from the reaction of certain siloxy aromatic imide siloxanes or hydroxyaromatic ester siloxanes which are made by effecting reaction between an organosiloxane having terminal aromatic anhydride groups or aromatic haloacyl groups which are each attached to silicon by silicon arylene linkages with an appropriate bishydroxyarylene compounds or hydroxyarylene amino compound. The aforementioned hydroxyaromatic imide siloxanes or hydroxyaromatic ester siloxanes are then phosgenated with a dihydric phenol or an aromatic bischloroformate. The silicone-polycarbonate block copolymers have been found to be flame retardant and useful as dielectric films and membranes, and as flame retardants in aromatic polycarbonates.

Abstract: Copolyestercarbonates are prepared by the reaction of at least one cyclic polycarbonate oligomer with at least one cyclic polyester oligomer in the presence of a cyclic polycarbonate polymerization catalyst at temperatures in the range of about 280.degree.-375.degree. C. Mixtures of bisphenol A polycarbonate and bisphenol A isophthalate or terephthalate oligomers are preferably employed, and the preferred catalysts are tetraarylborate salts such as tetra-n-butylammonium tetraphenylborate.

Abstract: Macrocyclic oligomers, including polycarbonates, polyesters, polyamides, polyimides, polyetherketones and polyethersulfones, are conveniently prepared from various spiro(bis)indane compounds, especially the 6,6'-difunctional 3,3',3'-tetramethylspiro(bis)indanes. The macrocyclic oligomers may be conveniently converted to linear polymers.

Abstract: Linear polyamide and polyimide copolysiloxane compositions are prepared by contacting a strongly acidic catalyst, basic catalyst or alkali metal fluoride with a macrocyclic spirobiindane polyamide or polyimide disiloxane, either alone or in combination with a cyclic polysiloxane such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

Abstract: Silicone-polycarbonate block copolymers are provided resulting from the reaction of certain siloxy aromatic imide siloxanes or hydroxyaromatic ester siloxanes which are made by effecting reaction between an organosiloxane having terminal aromatic anhydride groups or aromatic haloacyl groups which are each attached to silicon by silicon arylene linkages with an appropriate bishydroxyarylene compounds or hydroxyarylene amino compound. The aforementioned hydroxyaromatic imide siloxanes or hydroxyaromatic ester siloxanes are then phosgenated with a dihydric phenol or an aromatic bischloroformate. The silicone-polycarbonate block copolymers have been found to be flame retardant and useful as dielectric films and membranes, and as flame retardants in aromatic polycarbonates.

Abstract: There is provided by the present invention aromatic polyester-siloxane block copolymers which can be made by effecting the condensation between tetramethyldisiloxane bisbenzoic acid or acid chloride with a dihydric phenol such as bisphenol A or in combination with a mixture of such tetramethyldisiloxane bisbenzoic acid and aromatic acids, such as terephthalic acid or isophthalic acid. The aromatic polyester-siloxane block copolymers can be used as molding compounds, extruded films, in making composite matrix materials and as flame retardants for aromatic polycarbonates.

Abstract: Cyclic polyarylate oligomer compositions are prepared by the reaction of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid halide, such as isophthaloyl chloride or terephthaloyl chloride, with a water-soluble salt of a dihydroxyaromatic compound, such as bisphenol A disodium salt. Freshly prepared solutions of the halide in an organic liquid such as methylene chloride, and of the salt in water, are simultaneously introduced into an organic liquid containing a catalytic amount of at least one quaternary ammonium salt having a single alkyl group containing about 8-20 carbon atoms and having not more than 5 additional carbon atoms. The dihydroxyaromatic compound salt is employed in the amount of at least about 3% in excess of stoichiometric.

Abstract: Cyclic polyphenylene ether-polycarbonate oligomer compositions are prepared from bishaloformates and bisphenols, at least one of which includes a spirobiindane moiety and the other of which is derived from a bisphenol-terminated polyphenylene ether oligomer. The cyclic compositions may be converted to linear copolycarbonates by treatment with a polycarbonate formation catalyst.

Abstract: Copolyamides are prepared by the reaction of monocyclic spiro(bis)indane polyamide oligomers with lactams in the presence of basic reagents.

Abstract: Cyclic imides are prepared by the reaction of a bis(dicarboxyphenyl) sulfide or functional derivative thereof, and optionally a second tetracarboxylic acid or functional derivative thereof such as 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, with a diamine having a spirobiindane nucleus. The cyclic imides may be converted to linear polyimides by reaction with a basic alkali metal sulfide.

Abstract: Esters of spiro(bis)indane bis(carboxyphenyl ethers) are prepared by the reaction of spiro(bis)indane bisphenol di-(alkali metal) salts with nitro- or chloro-substituted benzoic acid esters, and may be converted to the free acids and thence to the acid chlorides. The latter are useful for preparation of macrocyclic polyamide oligomers.

Abstract: Cyclic polyamide oligomers are prepared by the reaction of various spirobiindane diamines, including spirobiindane bisphenol bis-aminophenoxy ethers, with dicarboxylic acid chloride such as isophthaloyl chloride. The oligomer compositions may be converted to copolyamides by reaction with lactams in the presence of basic reagents.

Abstract: Cyclic polyphenylene ether-polycarbonate oligomer compositions are prepared from bishaloformates and bisphenols, at least one of which includes a spirobiindane moiety and the other of which is derived from a bisphenol-terminated polyphenylene ether oligomer. The cyclic compositions may be converted to linear copolycarbonates by treatment with a polycarbonate formation catalyst.

Abstract: Macrocyclic oligomers, including polycarbonates, polyesters, polyamides, polyimides, polyetherketones and polyethersulfones, are conveniently prepared from various spiro(bis)indane compounds, especially the 6,6'-difunctional 3,3',3'-tetramethylspiro(bis)indanes. The macrocyclic oligomers may be conveniently converted to linear polymers.