[(2-ethoxy-5-trans-1-propen-1-yl)-phenoxyl]-terminated compounds

1. A [(2-ethoxy-5-trans-1-propen-1-yl)-phenoxy]-terminated compound according to formula (I)

wherein

D is a difunctional group; and

x is 2;

with the proviso that

the difunctional group D is not a polycarbonate with an average molar mass in the range of 15000 g/mol to 150000 g/mol, and

wherein difunctional group D is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) alkylene or alkenylene group with 2 to 12 carbon atoms:

(b) cycloalkylene group with 5 or 6 carbon atoms;

(c) heterocyclic group with 3 to 5 carbon atoms and at least one nitrogen sulfur or oxygen atom in the heterocyclic ring;

(d) mono- or dicarbocyclic group;

(e) bridged multicyclic group consisting of at least two groups selected from the following: monocarbocyclic aromatic groups, dicarbocyclic aromatic groups, cycloalkylene groups; wherein these groups are linked to each other by direct carbon-carbon bonds or by divalent groups; and

(f) one of the groups of the following structures

wherein AR 1 , AR 2 , AR 3 , AR 4 , AR 5 and AR 6 are independently difunctional aliphatic or aromatic residues;

and wherein n is an integer selected in the range from 2 to 100 and represents the number of repeating structural units in the polymer backbone:

(g) group of the following structure

wherein R 26 is a monofunctional group selected from the group consisting of:

(1) alkyl or alkenyl group with 2 to 12 carbon atoms,

(2) cycloalkyl group with 5 or 6 carbon atoms,

(3) aryl group with 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and

(4) [(2-ethoxy-5-trans-1-propen-1-yl)-phenoxy]-group.

2. The [(2-ethoxy-5-trans-1-propen-1-yl)-phenoxy]-terminated compound according to claim 1 ,

wherein D is a difunctional group selected from the group consisting of:

wherein n is an integer selected in the range from 2 to 100 and represents the number of repeating structural units in the polymer backbone.

3. A curable composition, comprising:

i. at least one [(2-ethoxy-5-trans-1-propen-1-yl)-phenoxy]-terminated compound according to claim 1 ;

ii. at least one polyimide of formula (II)

wherein

B is a difunctional group containing a carbon-carbon double bond, and

A is a y-functional group; and

y is an integer ≥2.

4. The curable composition according to claim 3 ,

wherein

the y-functional group A in the polyimide according to formula (II) is selected from the following difunctional groups:

a) alkylene group with 2 to 12 carbon atoms;

b) cycloalkylene group with 5 to 6 carbon atoms;

c) heterocyclic group with 4 to 5 carbon atoms and at least one nitrogen, oxygen, or sulphur atom in the ring;

d) mono- or dicarbocyclic group;

e) bridged multicyclic group consisting of at least two groups selected from the following: monocarbocyclic aromatic groups, dicarbocyclic aromatic groups, cycloalkylene groups; wherein these groups are linked to each other by direct carbon-carbon bonds or by divalent groups;

and

f) a group defined by formula (III)

wherein R 9 is one of the following groups

5. A curable composition according to claim 3 ,

wherein

B in the polyimide according to formula (II), is selected from the following difunctional groups:

6. A curable composition according to claim 3 , wherein the polyimide according to formula (II) is at least one polyimide selected from the group consisting of:

4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane, bis(3-methyl-5-ethyl-4-maleimidophenyl)methane, bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-maleimidophenyl)methane, 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylether, 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylsulfone, 3,3′-bismaleimidodiphenylsulfone, bismaleimidodiphenylindane, 2,4-bismaleimidotoluene, 2,6-bismaleimidotoluene, 1,3-bismaleimidobenzene, 1,2-bismaleimidobenzene, 1,4-bismaleimidobenzene, 1,2-bismaleimidoethane, 1,6-bismaleimidohexane, 1,6-bismaleimido-(2,2,4-trimethyl)hexane, 1,6-bismaleimido-(2,4,4-trimethyl)hexane, 1,4-bis(maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,3-bis(maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,4-bismaleimidodicyclohexylmethane, 1,3-bis(maleimidomethyl)benzene, and 1,4-bis(maleimidomethyl)benzene.

7. A curable composition according to claim 3 , wherein D is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein n is an integer selected in the range from 2 to 100 and represents the number of repeating structural units in the polymer backbone,

and wherein the polyimide according to formula (II) is selected from the group consisting of:

4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane, bis(3-methyl-5-ethyl-4-maleimidophenyl)methane, bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-maleimidophenyl)methane, 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylether, 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylsulfone, 3,3′-bismaleimidodiphenylsulfone, bismaleimidodiphenylindane, 2,4-bismaleimidotoluene, 2,6-bismaleimidotoluene, 1,3-bismaleimidobenzene, 1,2-bismaleimidobenzene, 1,4-bismaleimidobenzene, 1,2-bismaleimidoethane, 1,6-bismaleimidohexane, 1,6-bismaleimido-(2,2,4-trimethyl)hexane, 1,6-bismaleimido-(2,4,4-trimethyl)hexane, 1,4-bis(maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,3-bis(maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,4-bismaleimidodicyclohexylmethane, 1,3-bis(maleimidomethyl)benzene, and 1,4-bis(maleimidomethyl)benzene.

8. A curable composition according to claim 3 , further comprising a cure accelerator or a cure inhibitor.

9. A process for the manufacture of a curable composition according to claim 3 , comprising blending the components of the composition using a powder-, melt-, or solvent-assisted blending process resulting in a solid, low-melting, or tacky curable composition.

10. A curable pre-polymer obtainable from a curable composition according to claim 3 , by a process comprising heating the curable composition to a temperature in the range of 50° C. to 250° C., for a time sufficient to obtain the pre-polymer which is still formable upon the application of heat and/or pressure.

11. A crosslinked polymer obtainable from the curable composition according to claim 3 by a process comprising the heating the curable composition to a temperature in the range of 70° C. to 280° C. for a time sufficient to obtain a polymer.

12. A process for the manufacture of a composite material, comprising: combining a curable composition according to claim 3 with a fibrous or particulate reinforcement, and curing a resultant product.

13. A composite material obtainable by a process according to claim 12 .

14. A process for the manufacture of a composite material, comprising: combining a curable pre-polymer according to claim 10 with a fibrous or particulate reinforcement, and curing a resultant product.