Halovinylidene arylene polymers and process for making the same

Abstract

Halovinylidene arylene polymers are prepared from the dihydrohalogenation of the polymeric reaction product of an aromatic compound containing nuclearly-bonded hydrogen and either chloral or bromal, in the presence of a strong acidic catalyst.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A polymer composed of recurring units of the formula ##STR20## where R and R' are members selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen, and the methyl radical, Z is a direct bond or is a member selected from the class consisting of --O--, --S--, the   .[.O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n O].sbsb.q.].       .Iadd.--O--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 O].sbsb.q.Iaddend.     radical, and divalent radicals of the general formula ##STR21## where Y is chlorine or bromine, Q is a member of the class of --O--, --S--, --SO 2  --, >C=O and divalent alkyl radicals of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is a whole number in excess of 1, and .[.n and q are whole numbers from 1 to 2, inclusive.]. .Iadd.q is a whole number equal to 1 or 2. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. A polymer as in claim 1 composed of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR22## wherein m is a whole number greater than 1. 
     
     
       3. A polymer as in claim 1 composed of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR23## where m is a whole number greater than 1. 
     
     
       4. A polymer as in claim 1 composed of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR24## where m is a whole number greater than 1. 
     
     
       5. A polymer as in claim 1 composed of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR25## where m is a whole number greater than 1. 
     
     
       6. The process for making .[.polymers.]. .Iadd.polymer .Iaddend.composed of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR26## which .[.process.]. comprises dehydrohalogenating a precursor polymer composed of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR27## in the presence of a dehydrohalogenating system composed of a tertiary organic amine and an inorganic base, where R and R' are members selected from the class consisting of hydrogen, halogen and the methyl radical, Z is a direct bond or is a member selected from the class consisting of --O--, --S--, divalent alkyl hydrocarbon radicals of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, the   .[.--O--(CH.sub.2).sub.n O].sbsb.q.].       .Iadd.--O--(CH.sub.2).sub.2 O].sbsb.q.Iaddend.     radical, and divalent radicals of the general formula ##STR28## where Y is chlorine or bromine, Q is a member of the class of --O--, --S--, --SO 2  --, >C=O and divalent alkyl radicals of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m is a whole number in excess of 1 .[...]. .Iadd.and q is a whole number equal to 1 or 2. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       7. The process of claim 6 wherein the precursor polymer is obtained from the reaction of chloral and 1,2-bis(2-methylphenoxy) ethane. 
     
     
       8. The process as in claim 6 wherein the precursor polymer is one obtained from the reaction of chloral and 1-phenoxy-2-(2-methylphenoxy) ethane. 
     
     
       9. The process as in claim 6 wherein the precursor polymer is obtained from the reaction of chloral hydrate and diphenyl ether. 
     
     
       10. The process as in claim 6 wherein the dehydrohalogenating system is a tertiary amine and sodium carbonate. 
     
     
       11. The process as in claim 6 wherein the dehydrohalogenating system is a nitrogen-containing cyclic ether and an alkali-metal hydroxide. 
     
     
       12. The process as in claim 6 wherein the dehydrohalogenation is carried out in aqueous solution of an alkali-metal hydroxide and a phenol.