New bis(naphthalic anhydrides) and polyheteroarylenes based on them with improved processability

New bis(naphthalic anhydrides) containing "hinge" groups and/or bulky substituents are considered. It has been shown that the majority of these monomers may be synthesised from derivatives of naphthalic anhydride or acenaphthene with subsequent oxidation of the bisacenaphthyls obtained. Reaction of these compounds with aromatic diamines and bis(o-phenylenediamines) gives polynaphthylimides and polynaphthoylenebenzimidazoles combining solubility in organic solvents with high thermal and chemical stability. The bibliography includes 154 references.