Polyetherimides, methods of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom

A method for the manufacture of a bis(halophthalimide) composition from a combination of a 4-halophthalic anhydride isomer of the formula

• and a 3-halophthalic anhydride isomer of the formula
• wherein X is a halogen, in a ratio of the 4-halophthalic anhydride to 3-halophthalic anhydride of 90:10 to 10:90, and wherein one of the isomers is a first isomer and the other is a second isomer, the method comprising
• reacting at least 80 mole percent of the total amount of the first isomer with a diamine of the formula
• H2N—R—NH2
• wherein R is selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, a halogenated derivative thereof, a straight or branched chain alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a cycloalkylene group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, or a divalent group of the formula
• wherein Q1 is selected from —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO2—, —SO—, —CyH2y— wherein y is 1 to 5, and a halogenated derivative thereof, to form a bis(halophthalimide) to form a reaction mixture comprising a bis(halophthalimide);
• and
• adding the second isomer and 0-20 mole percent of the total amount of the first isomer and another portion of the diamine to the reaction mixture, to form a bis(halophthalimide) composition comprising, based on the total weight of the composition,
• from more than 45 to less than 75 weight percent of a 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• less than 10 weight percent of a 4,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• and
• from more than 45 to less than 75 weight percent of a (4,4′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• wherein X and R are as defined above.