Cyclic oligomers of phenolphthalein polyarylene ether sulfone (ketone): Preparation through cyclo-depolymerisation of corresponding polymers

Cyclic oligomers of phenolphthalein polyarylene ether sulfone(ketone) were prepared through cyclo-depolymerisation of corresponding polymers using CsF as the catalyst in dipolar aprotic solvent DMAc and DMF, and a family of macrocycles containing from dimer up to at least heptamer were confirmed. by GPC, HPLC and MALDI-TOF-MS. The yields of cyclics get as high as 86.3% and 87.9% respectively.