A new biphenol, 3-pentadecyl 4,4-biphenol, was synthesized starting from 3-pentadecylphenol and was polycondensed with 4,4-difluorobenzophenone, 1,3-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene and bis(4-fluorophenyl)sulfone to obtain poly(arylene ether)s with biphenylene linkages in the backbone and pendent pentadecyl chains. Inherent viscosities and number-average molecular weights (M-n) of the poly(arylene ether)s were in the range 0.50 - 0.81 dL g(-1) and 2.2 x 10(4) - 8.3 x 10(4), respectively. Detailed NMR spectroscopic studies of the poly(arylene ether)s indicated the presence of constitutional isomerism which existed because of the non-symmetrical structure of 3-pentadecyl 4,4-biphenol. The poly(arylene ether)s readily dissolved in common organic solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform and tetrahydrofuran and could be cast into tough, transparent and flexible films from their chloroform solutions. The poly(arylene ether)s exhibited T-g values in the range 35-60 degrees C which are lower than that of reference poly(arylene ether)s without pentadecyl chains. The 10% decomposition temperatures (T-10) of the poly(arylene ether)s were in the range 410-455 degrees C indicating their good thermal stability. A gas permeation study of poly(ether sulfone) containing pendent pentadecyl chains revealed a moderate increase in permeability for helium, hydrogen and oxygen. However, there was a large increase in permeability for carbon dioxide which could be attributed to the internal plasticization effect of pendent pentadecyl chains. (c) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry

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