Polyalkylated aromatic monomers and polymers. Part 1.—Friedel–Crafts diacylation of polymethylbenzenes as a means of monomer synthesis

Abstract

Diacylation of mesitylene, durene and isodurene by the Friedel–Crafts method, using the acylating agent in excess (as both solvent and reagent), gives derivatives which are of potential use as monomers. The bis(p-fluorobenzoyl) derivatives, for example, can function as the electrophilic components in poly(ether ether ketone)(PEEK)-type Polymerisations, and the bisnitrobenzoyl compounds are potential sources of novel diamines. Tribenzoylation [although not tris(p-fluorobenzoylation)] of mesitylene has been observed, but dibenzoylation of m-xylene is a much less efficient process than previously reported.