Synthesis and gas permeation properties of thermally rearranged poly(ether-benzoxazole)s with low rearrangement temperatures

Abstract The diamine monomer, 9,9-bis[4-(4-amino-3-hydroxylphenoxy)phenyl] fluorene (bis-AHPPF) was successfully synthesized according to our modified method. A series of hydroxyl-containing poly(ether-imide)s (HPEIs) were prepared by polycondensation of the bis-AHPPF diamine with six kinds of dianhydrides, including 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (CBDA), pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic diandhydride (BPDA), 3,3′,4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidine)diphtalic anhydride (6FDA) followed by thermal imidization. The corresponding thermally rearranged (TR) membranes were obtained by solid state thermal treatment at high temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. The