Synthesis and Characterization of Some Copolyformals Containing, in the Main Chain, Different Amounts of Fullerene Units

Two fullerene monomers, 61,61′-bis(p-hydroxyphenylmethano) fullerene[60] (I) and 61,61-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)methano-1,2-fullerene[60] (II) were prepared. Polycondensations between dibro-momethane and suitable mixtures of I or II and bisphenol A or 1,20-di(bisphenoxy-A)eicosane (III)in different molar ratios were performed to obtain copolyformalsIV-VIIthat contain up to about 5% (molar) of fullerene units in the main chain. Composition and microstructure of these copolyformals were inferredby UV-visible and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analyses. CopolymersIV-VIIare soluble enough materials and exhibit a good thermal stability;besides, the insertion of long linear aliphatic linkages along the main chain of copolyformals VI and VIIproduces a remarkable lowering in their glass transition temperature at about 15 °C.