Synthesis of N-substituted bisitaconimide monomers for use as thermosetting polyimide resins

Two monomeric N-substituted bisitaconimides, N,N′-bisitaconimido-p,p′-diphenylmethane and N,N′-bis(itaconimido-p,p′-diphenyl ether), were synthesized from the corresponding diamines. The synthesis was accomplished by reaction of the diamine with itaconic anhydride and cyclocondensation of the resultant bisitaconamic acid. Attempts to use p,p′-diaminodiphenylsulfone as the diamine gave N,N′-biscitraconimido-p,p′-diphenylsulfone and N-citraconimido-N′-itaconimido-p,p′-diphenylsulfone instead of the bisitaconimide. The two bisitaconimides polymerize thermally at 180°C and 225°C, respectively, and yield tough polymers with very high thermal stability.