Polymer from nitrile terminated compounds having Schiff bonds and process for preparing the same

A polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer of a nitrile-terminated Schiff compound represented by the formula

• X--(Z--Y--C.tbd.N).sub.2
• wherein
• Z represents --CH.dbd.N-- or --N.dbd.CH--;
• Y represents a straight or branched alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted anthracene group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenanthrene group, a substituted or unsubstituted pyrene group or a divalent organic group represented by the formula ##STR46## wherein Q represents O, S, SO.sub.2, --CH.sub.2).sub.m --, CO, --(CF.sub.2).sub.m --, ##STR47## m represents a number of 1 to 12, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different from one another and represent a member selected from the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CF.sub.3, ##STR48## and X represents one of the divalent organic groups specified above wherein X and Y are the same or different from one another and a first Y is the same or different from a second Y.

A process for producing a polymer, the process comprising:

• providing a nitrile-terminated Schiff compound monomer represented by the formula
• X--(Z--Y--C.tbd.N).sub.2
• wherein
• Z represents --CH.dbd.N-- or --N.dbd.CH--;
• Y represents a straight or branched alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted anthracene group, a substituted phenanthrene group, a substituted or unsubstituted pyrene group or a divalent organic group consisting of ##STR53## wherein Q represents O, S, SO.sub.2, --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --, CO, --CF.sub.2).sub.m --, ##STR54## m represents a number of 1 to 12, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different from one another and represent a member selected from the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CF.sub.3, ##STR55## and X represents one of the divalent organic groups specified above wherein X and Y are the same or different from one another and a first Y is the same or different from a second Y;
• applying heat energy to the nitrile-terminated Schiff compound at a temperature sufficient to polymerize the same.

A process for producing a polymer, the process comprising:

• providing a nitrile terminated Schiff compound monomer represented by the formula
• X--(Z--Y--C.tbd.N).sub.n
• wherein
• n is a number of 1 or 2;
• Z represents a --CH.dbd.N-- or --N.dbd.CH--;
• when n is 1, X represents a member of the group consisting of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl group, or a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group;
• and
• Y represents a member of the group consisting of a straight or branched alkylene group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted anthracene group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenathrene group, a substituted or unsubstituted pyrene group, or a divalent organic group represented by the formula ##STR56## wherein Q represents O, S, SO.sub.2, --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --, CO, --(CF.sub.2).sub.m --, ##STR57## m represents a number of 1 to 12, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different from one another and represent a member of the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CF.sub.3, ##STR58## and when n is 2, X represents one of the divalent organic groups specified above wherein X and Y are the same or different from one another and a first Y is the same or different from a second Y;
• giving heat energy to the monomer at a temperature between about 120.degree. C. and 180.degree. C. to polymerize the monomer.