Polyetherimide compositions and methods for the manufacture and use thereof

A method of producing a polyetherimide having low estradiol binding activity comprising,

• selecting both di-t-butyl hydroquinone and bis-(hydroxy aryl)-N-aryl isoindolinone, or bis-(hydroxy aryl)-N-aryl isoindolinone,
• or,
• selecting at least two phenolic monomers from one of:
• (a) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, resorcinol, hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone, and biphenols;
• (b) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, hydroquinone, and biphenols;
• (c) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, methyl hydroquinone, and biphenols;
• (d) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, resorcinol, hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone, and tetramethyl bisphenol-A;
• (e) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, hydroquinone, and tetramethyl bisphenol-A;
• and,
• (f) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, methyl hydroquinone, and tetramethyl bisphenol-A;
• wherein each of said phenolic monomers do not exhibit a half maximal inhibitory concentration (1050) less than 0.00025M for alpha or beta in vitro estradiol receptors, and
• preparing a polyetherimide from said phenolic monomers by
• (i) reacting a diamine monomer with a halo or nitro anhydride to form a bis halo or bis nitro phthalimide reaction product, followed by reacting the bis halo or bis nitro phthalimide reaction product with said phenolic monomers,
• or,
• (ii) reacting said phenolic monomers with a mono halo or nitro N-alkyl phthalimide compound to form a bis alkyl imide aromatic ether reaction product, converting the bis alkyl imide aromatic ether reaction product to an aromatic ether dianhydride reaction product, followed by reacting the aromatic ether dianhydride reaction product with a diamine,
• the polyetherimide comprising repeating units derived from the one or more phenolic monomers, and wherein one or more residual phenolic monomers are present at more than zero but less than or equal to 1,000 ppm and do not exhibit a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 0.00025M for alpha or beta in vitro estradiol receptors.