Synthesis and study of phenylated poly(phenylenes) based on bis(arylethynyl)arylenes

A series of new phenylated poly(phenylenes) soluble in a wide range of organic solvents were synthesized through the interaction of bis(cyclopentadienones) with various bis(arylethynyl)arylenes via the Diels-Alder reaction. The M w and M n of the synthesized polymers vary from 3.5 x 10 4 to 2.0 x 10 5 and from 7.6 x 103 to 3.3 x 104, respectively. The T g values of poly(phenylenes) fall in the 229-345°C range, and the temperatures corresponding to 10% weight loss in air and argon are in the 530-613 and 581-642°C intervals, respectively.