| Abstract: | Polyimides have been synthesized by the sensitized photoaddition of aliphatic and aromatic bismaleimides to benzene. The reaction involves 2+2 cycloaddition to give homoannular diene intermediate followed by Diels-Alder addition to give polymer. Proof of structure is based mainly on a comparison of infrared spectra with those of the corresponding polyimides prepared from maleic anhydride-benzene photoadduct and diamines. The very low solubility of the polymers indicates that crosslinking probably occurred during photolysis. All the polyimides appear to decompose by decyclization at about 420–485°C. Polymer yield was dependent on bismaleimide structure. |
