Syntheses of carboxylated poly(arylene ether ketone)s with hyperbranched and linear architectures through the self-condensations of aromatic dicarboxylic anhydrides

Carboxylated poly(arylene ether ketone)s with hyperbranched and linear architectures were synthesized by the self-condensations of aromatic dicarboxylic anhydrides. A linear poly(arylene ether ketone) was obtained from an AB monomer, 4-phenoxyphthalic anhydride, whereas a hyperbranched poly(arylene ether ketone) was obtained using an AB 2 monomer, 1,3-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzene dianhydride. The method for the synthesis of the hyperbranched poly(arylene ether ketone) is notable, because it provides a high ion-exchange capacity, above 7 mmol g − 1 , through a one-pot polycondensation. These functional polymers are soluble in several organic solvents and aqueous NaOH, in contrast to typical poly(ether ketone)s, while they retain the high thermal stabilities of their backbones.