COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR POLYMER COMPOSITES

1 . An organophosphonium salt having structure I

wherein Ar 1 , Ar 2 , and Ar 3 are independently C 2 -C 50 aromatic radicals; Ar 4 is a bond or a C 2 -C 50 aromatic radical; “a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R 1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic radical, a C 5 -C 20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C 2 -C 20 aromatic radical; R 2 is a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic radical, a C 5 -C 20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C 2 -C 50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain; and X − is a charge balancing counterion.

2 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein Ar 4 is a bond.

3 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polyetherimide polymer chain.

4 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polyether ketone polymer chain.

5 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polyether sulfone polymer chain.

6 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polymer chain having a number average molecular weight M n in a range from about 1000 to about 50,000 grams per mole.

7 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polymer chain having a number average molecular weight M n in a range from about 1000 to about 20,000 grams per mole.

8 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polymer chain having a number average molecular weight M n in a range from about 1000 to about 5,000 grams per mole.

9 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polyetherimide polymer chain having a number average molecular weight M n in a range from about 1000 to about 50,000 grams per mole.

10 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a polyetherimide polymer chain having a number average molecular weight M n in a range from about 1000 to about 20,000 grams per mole.

11 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 having structure II

wherein X − is a charge balancing counterion.

12 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 having structure III.

wherein X − is a charge balancing counterion.

13 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 having structure IV

wherein X − is a charge balancing counterion, m is a number in a range from about 10 to about 1000, and Ar 5 is a C 2 -C 50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain.

14 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 13 , wherein Ar 5 is an aromatic radical having structure V

wherein X − is a charge balancing counterion.

15 . The organophosphonium salt according to claim 1 , wherein the charge balancing counterion X − is selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, sulfite, carbonate, bicarbonate, acetate, oxalate, and combinations thereof.

16 . A method for the preparation of an organophosphonium salt, said method comprising:

(a) contacting an amine-substituted phosphonium salt having structure VI

wherein Ar 1 , Ar 2 , Ar 3 and Ar 4 are independently C 2 -C 50 aromatic radicals, and X − is a charge balancing counterion;

with an anhydride compound having structure VII

“a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R 1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic radical, a C 5 -C 20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C 2 -C 20 aromatic radical; and R 2 is a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic radical, a C 5 -C 20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C 2 -C 50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain; and

(b) isolating the product organophosphonium salt.

17 . The method according to claim 16 wherein said contacting is carried out in an organic solvent at temperature in a range from about 120° C. to about 160° C.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein said contacting is carried out in a melt.

19 . A method for the preparation of an organophosphonium salt, said method comprising:

(a) contacting an amine-substituted phosphonium salt having structure IX

wherein X − is a charge balancing counterion;

with an anhydride compound having structure VII

wherein “a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R 1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic radical, a C 5 -C 20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C 2 -C 20 aromatic radical; and R 2 is a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic radical, a C 5 -C 20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C 2 -C 50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain; and

(b) isolating the product organophosphonium salt.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein said anhydride compound having structure VII is selected from the group consisting of 3,4′-biphenyl dianhydride, 4,4′-biphenyl dianhydride, 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,3′-oxydiphthalic anhydride, bisphenol A dianhydride (BPADA), 6F-dianhydride, and 4,4′-biphenyldianhydride.

21 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein said anhydride compound having structure VII is bisphenol A dianhydride (BPADA).

22 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein said X − is a charge balancing counterion is selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, sulfite, carbonate, bicarbonate, acetate, oxalate, and combinations thereof.

23 . A method of preparing a for the preparation of an organophosphonium salt, said method comprising:

(a) contacting an aromatic amine with a halogen-substituted anhydride to provide a halogen-substituted imide;

(b) reacting said halogen-substituted imide with a triarylphosphine to effect a nucleophilic substitution of halogen by triarylphosphine; and

(c) isolating the product organophosphonium salt.