The Mechanism of Polybenzimidazole Formation by Condensation of Aromatic Tetramines and Esters and the Structure of the Resulting Polycondensates

Abstract

The vacuum or inert-atmosphere condensation of diphenyl isophthalate and 2,2′,3,3′-tetraaminobiphenyl to poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole has been investigated. Evidence from polymer and model compound (diphenylbibenzimidazole) spectral studies, elemental analysis, and analysis of volatile effluent indicates that the prepolymer formed at 260 to 300°C contains both benzimidazole and hydroxybenzimidazoline but is essentially free from phenoxybenzimidazole structures. A mechanism involving loss of phenol initially, followed by evolution of water to give benzimidazole structures, is established from experimental evidence. Polymerization in vacuum to 400°C gives the polybenzimidazole.