4′-difluorophenyl sulfone (SDFDPS) was synthesized from 4
4′-difluorophenyl sulfone (DFDPS) with industrial grade. The starting material DFDPS was purified by sublimation before use. The reaction condition was optimized by varying the molar ratio of SO3 to DFDPS
reaction temperature and reaction time. The purity and yield of the product was determined by using HPLC
UV
1H NMR and FTIR. The optimized reaction condition was found as that the molar ratio of SO3 to DFDPS is 3.0∶1 with a reaction temperature of 110℃ for 20 h
under which neither monosulfonated product nor DFDPS residue was detected. The product SDFDPS was obtained with a total yield of 75% upon recrystallization twice from ethanol/water. Poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymer with 60% sulfonation degree prepared from the synthesized SDFDPS shows a high relative viscosity
which also indicates the high purity of the synthesized SDFDPS.