Polyetherimides, methods of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom

A polyetherimide composition manufactured by reaction of an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound of the formula

• MO—Z—OM
• wherein M is an alkali metal, Z is an aromatic C6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination thereof, with a bis(halophthalimide) composition comprising, based on the weight of the bis(halophthalimide) composition,
• at least 15 wt. % of a 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• more than 10 wt. % of a 4,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• and
• less than 27 wt. % of a 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• wherein
• each 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 20 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—, and —CyH2y— wherein y is 1 to 5 and a halogenated derivative thereof,
• each X is independently fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo, and
• further wherein
• the polyetherimide is of the formula
• wherein n is greater than 1, each R is the same or different, each Z is the same or different, and are as defined above, the divalent bonds between the —O—Z—O— group and the phenyl substituents are in the 3,3′, 3,4′, 4,3′, and 4,4′ positions, and each X is independently fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo,
• wherein the polyetherimide comprises, based on parts of the polyetherimide,
• less than 100 parts per million each of the 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide), 4,3′-bis(halophthalimide), and 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide),
• less than 100 parts per million of a halo(bisphthalimide) of the formula
• less than 100 parts per million of a bisphthalimide of the formula
• and
• less than 2000 parts per million of halide ion;
• and
• less than 4.7 wt.% of a cyclic adduct of the dihydroxy aromatic compound and the bis(halophthalimide) composition, wherein R is as defined above.

A polyetherimide of the formula

• wherein
• based on the total weight percent of the —O—Z—O— groups in the polyetherimide,
• from more than more than 0 to less than 15 mole percent of the —O—Z—O— groups are in the 3,3′ position,
• more than 17 less than 85 mole percent of the —O—Z—O— groups are in the 3,4′, and 4′,3 positions, and
• from more than 0 to less than 27 mole percent of the —O—Z—O— groups are 4,4′ position;
• n is greater than 1;
• each R is independently 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—, and —CyH2y— wherein y is 1 to 5 and a halogenated derivative thereof;
• and
• each Z is independently an aromatic C6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination thereof,
• wherein the polyetherimide comprises, based on parts of the polyetherimide,
• less than 100 parts per million each of the 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide), 4,3′-bis(halophthalimide), and 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide),
• less than 100 parts per million of a halo(bisphthalimide) of the formula
• less than 100 parts per million of a bisphthalimide of the formula
• and
• less than 2000 parts per million of halide ion;
• and
• less than 4.7 wt.% of a cyclic adduct of the dihydroxy aromatic compound and the bis(chlorophthalimide), wherein R is as defined above.