Polyketones and methods therefor

Claim 2

A homopolymer whose repeating units are of structure ##STR8## and whose mean inherent viscosity is within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 3

A homopolymer of structure ##STR9## having mean inherent viscosity within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C, R' being an aromatic capping agent whose rate of acetylation relative to benzene is greater than about 150 and n being the number of repeating units in the polymer.

Claim 4

A homopolymer of structure ##STR9## having mean inherent viscosity within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C, R' being an aromatic capping agent whose rate of acetylation relative to benzene is greater than about 150 and n being the number of repeating units in the polymer.

Claim 5

The process of forming a homopolymer whose repeating units are of structures ##STR10## which comprises polymerizing in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride a monomer containing a biphenylyloxybenzoyl moiety reactive in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride to yield a carboxonium ion - containing intermediate, polymerization occuring in the presence of an aromatic capping agent whose rate of acetylation relative to benzene is greater than about 150, said agent being present in an amount sufficient to yield polymer having mean inherent viscosity within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 for a solution of 0.1 g of polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 6

The process of forming a homopolymer whose repeating units are of structures ##STR10## which comprises polymerizing in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride a monomer containing a biphenylyloxybenzoyl moiety reactive in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride to yield a carboxonium ion - containing intermediate, polymerization occuring in the presence of an aromatic capping agent whose rate of acetylation relative to benzene is greater than about 150, said agent being present in an amount sufficient to yield polymer having mean inherent viscosity within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 for a solution of 0.1 g of polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 7

A copolymer whose repeating units are of structure ##STR11## with up to 20% of a second unit --X--CO-- wherein --X--CO-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR12## and mixtures thereof, and whose mean inherent viscosity is within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 8

A copolymer whose repeating units are of structure ##STR11## with up to 20% of a second unit --X--CO-- wherein --X--CO-- is selected from the group consisting of ##STR12## and mixtures thereof, and whose mean inherent viscosity is within the range from about 0.5 to about 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 9

A copolymer according to claim 4 having an aromatic capping agent, said capping agent having a rate of acetylation relative to benzene that is greater than about 150.

Claim 10

A copolymer according to claim 4 with not more than about 15% of said second unit.

Claim 11

A copolymer according to claim 6 wherein said second unit is ##STR13##

Claim 12

A copolymer according to claim 6 wherein second unit is ##STR14##

Claim 13

A copolymer according to claim 6 wherein said second unit is a mixture of ##STR15##

Claim 14

A homopolymer according to claim 2 wherein said capping agent is selected from biphenyl and diphenyl ether.

Claim 15

A copolymer according to claim 5 wherein said aromatic capping agent is selected from biphenyl and diphenyl ether.

Claim 16

The process of forming a copolymer which comprises polymerizing in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride a monomer containing a para-biphenyloxybenzoyl moiety and up to 20% of a second monomer containing a moiety selected from the group consisting of metabiphenyloxybenzoyl, ortho-biphenyloxybenzoyl and mixtures thereof, each of said monomers reactive in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride to form a carboxonium ion to yield an intermediate mixture of carboxonium ions and each of said monomers having a site reactive with said carboxonium ions to form a ketone, polymerization occuring in the presence of an aromatic capping agent whose rate of acetylation relative to benzene is greater than about 150, said agent being present in an amount sufficient to yield a polymeric ketone having mean inherent viscosity within the range from about 0.5 to 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 17

The process of forming a copolymer which comprises polymerizing in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride a monomer containing a para-biphenyloxybenzoyl moiety and up to 20% of a second monomer containing a moiety selected from the group consisting of metabiphenyloxybenzoyl, ortho-biphenyloxybenzoyl and mixtures thereof, each of said monomers reactive in hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride to form a carboxonium ion to yield an intermediate mixture of carboxonium ions and each of said monomers having a site reactive with said carboxonium ions to form a ketone, polymerization occuring in the presence of an aromatic capping agent whose rate of acetylation relative to benzene is greater than about 150, said agent being present in an amount sufficient to yield a polymeric ketone having mean inherent viscosity within the range from about 0.5 to 1.7 determined from a solution of 0.1 g polymer in 100 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid at 25° C.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 12 having not more than about 15% of said second unit.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 13 wherein second unit is ##STR16##

Claim 20

A process according to claim 13 wherein second unit is ##STR17##

Claim 21

A process according to claim 13 wherein said second unit is a mixture of and ##STR18##

Claim 22

A process according to claim 12 wherein said capping agent is selected from biphenyl and diphenyl ether.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 13 wherein said capping agent is selected from biphenyl and diphenyl ether.

Claim 24

A product of the process of claim 12.

Claim 25

A product of the process of claim 13.

Claim 26

A product of the process of claim 14.

Claim 27

A product of the process of claim 15.

Claim 28

A product of the process of claim 16.

Claim 29

A product of the process of claim 17.

Claim 30

A product of the process of claim 18.