Polymers derived from 2,2′-bisimidazoles

Inventors

Bara, Jason E. • O'Harra, Kathryn E. • Kammakakam, Irshad

Assignees

University of Alabama at Birmingham UAB

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions derived from 2,2′bisimidazoles building blocks and methods of making the same. The disclosed compositions are capable of withstanding temperatures up to 600° C. and substantially flame resistant.

Core Innovation

The disclosure relates to polymer compositions derived from 2,2’-bisimidazole building blocks and polymerizable mixtures comprising compounds defined by Markush-type variables. The polymers include substituent variables R1, R2/R2’, R3/R3’, R4/R5 and Y, where Y is N or N+-R6, and R1 is C1-C10 alkyl or C1-C10 perfluoroalkyl. The disclosure also specifies ring-forming options for R2/R2’ and R3/R3’ and possible counteranion X pairing with the cationic N+-R6 form.

The repeating units further include oligomeric spacer groups defined by R4 and R5, where R4 and R5 are each H or a group, and R4/R5 can correspond to an oligomeric spacer [RA-RB-RC]m with m up to 100 and n up to 100,000. The polymer/monomer system uses leaving groups X on precursor structures as anions within the resulting cationic polymer chemistry, and the anion options include halides, sulfonate and fluorinated counterions, and other specified ionic species. Modular functional group incorporation is described through the Markush-type variables and the corresponding selection of substituents and charged species.

The disclosure addresses polybenzimidazole derivatives and related polymer classes by providing polymer compositions that can withstand up to 600°C and are described as substantially flame resistant. It further states that anion exchange can tune material properties such as viscosity, CO2 affinity, and melting point, and that the system includes alkylation to form benzimidazolium salts that can be used with ionic liquids to form composites. Polymer molecular weight and/or degree of polymerization is defined with n ranging from 1 to 100,000.

Claims Coverage

The provided excerpts include independent claims directed to polymer compositions obtained by polymerizing a mixture containing a compound defined by a specific structural formula, with main inventive features centered on variable substituent-defined repeating units and optional imidazolium-containing ionic functionality.

Across the provided claims, the inventive subject matter is a polymer composition obtained by polymerizing a mixture that includes a compound defined by structural formulas with Markush-type variables, where the core features are the selection of R1, ring-forming options for R2/R2’ and R3/R3’, and the selection of Y as N or N+-R6. For the R4/R5 definitions, the claims further condition the mixture composition based on whether R4/R5 are H or substituted groups, including additional compounds with specified leaving groups.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications