Synthesis of reactive three‐arm star‐shaped oligoimides with narrow molecular weight distribution

ABSTRACT Series of star‐shaped three arms oligoimides (SOI) with terminal amino groups with narrow MWD ((Mw/Mn = 1.1–2) was synthesized by the one‐stage high‐temperature polycondensation in molten benzoic acid at 140 °C. The (B3+AB′) approach with the “slow addition of monomer” method was used for this synthesis, where B3 is 2,4,6‐tris(4‐aminophenoxy)toluene and AB′ is 3‐aminophenoxy phthalic acid. The SOI arm's length was controlled by the AB′/B3 mole ratio of 10:1, 20:1, 40:1, and 100:1. By the reaction of SOI's terminal amino groups with acetic anhydride, corresponding acetamide derivatives were obtained. SOI synthesized are soluble in selected organic solvents. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 2004–2009 Three‐arm star‐shape oligo‐ and polyimides with terminal amino groups and narrow molecular mass distribution were prepared using the one‐pot catalytic auto polycondensation of AB′ monomer in the presence of triamine (B3) in molten benzoic acid at 140 °C. The arm length can be controlled by the overall AB′/B3 ratio.