Abstract: A novel macrocycle-terminated polyimide oligomer and the model compound, which were considered as the most simple molecule to be representative of the oligomer, were prepared. The aromatic ether ketone macrocycle was prepared by aromatic nucleophilic substitution from (3-methoxy)phenylhydroquinone and difluorine compound under pseudohigh-dilution condition. The polyimide oligomer exhibited high thermal stability due to its wholly aromatic structure. Under heating treatment, the oligomer and the model compound can form fully aromatic thermoset polyimide by ring-opening reaction without catalyst. After crosslinking, the polyimide showed much higher glass transition temperature and excellent thermal stability with temperature at 5% mass loss above 550 ℃.

Key words: Polyimide, Macrocycle aryl ether-ketone, Crosslinking, Ring-openning polymerization