Synthesis of Macrocyclic Arylene Ketone Oligomers Containing the Phthaloyl Moiety by Friedel–Crafts Acylation Reaction

Two kinds of macrocyclic arylene ketone oligomers have been synthesized in high yield from phthaloyl dichloride and various bridge-linking electron-rich aromatic hydrocarbons via the modified Friedel–Crafts acylation reaction. The presence of a Lewis base in this reaction is demonstrated to be advantageous for forming macrocycle oligomers. These resultant oligomers can undergo melt ring-opening polymerization to give polymers with high Tg and excellent thermal stability.