Poly(ether sulfone) of Isosorbide, Isomannide and Isoidide

Abstract

Three polyether sulfones were prepared by polycondensation of 4,4'-difluorodiphenyl-sulfone and 1,6-dianhydrosorbitol (isosorbide), 1,6-dianhydromannitol (isomannide) or 1,6-dianhydroiditol (isoidide) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Depending on the optimization of the reaction conditions, moderate to high molecular weights were obtained. Cyclic polyethers were the predominant reaction products in the MALDI-TOF mass spectra indicating that the chain growth was mainly limited by cyclization under optimized reaction conditions. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed an amorphous character with glass transition temperatures in the range of 213—253°C.