Macromolecules, Vol. 39, No. 22, 2006
Poly(ether imide)s with 3- and 4-Phthalimide Units 7547
analysis of the results it was concluded that the products were
small oligomers, either cyclic or linear. It was further concluded
that products from bis(4-aminophenoxy) ether (ODA) as diamine
were almost exclusively cyclic oligomers, with domination by
the cyclic dimer. Products prepared from mesitylene diamine
were also dominated by cyclic dimer, but with low contents of
other cyclics and several linear species. In contrast, products
from other diamines with hindering ortho-methyl groups were
dominated by various linear oligomers. From these data it was
concluded that oligomers with ODA and mesitylenediamine as
diamines favor macrocycle formation but that oligomers from
other diamines with hindering diamines adopt conformations
which favor neither polymer growth nor cyclization.
Acknowledgment. The authors acknowledge the support of
EPSRC in the form grants to F.S. The authors also thank Mr.
A. Mills for recording the ESI-MS spectra.
References and Notes
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A graphical comparison of permeability and permselectivity
data clearly shows that, while both the 3- and 4-linked poly-
(ether imide)s with ortho-tert-butyl substituents 21aE and 21bE,
respectively, have relatively high permeabilities for all gases
studied, the 4-linked polymer 21bE is far superior in terms of
permselectivity and has the best overall properties for gas
separation. This conclusion extends a similar observation for
other poly(ether imide)s based on the same dianhydride.2