Thermoplastic polymers containing repeating hydrazide groups

Claim 2

A thermoplastic polymer which contains recurring structural units corresponding to the formula: where R is a substituent selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups, n is the integer zero or one, X is a substituent selected from nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl and tricyanoethylene groups, and Y is a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, nitro and cyano groups.

Claim 3

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the molecular weight of the polymer is between about a 500-500,000.

Claim 4

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the repeating structural units comprise at least 10 weight percent of the total polymer weight.

Claim 5

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein X is nitro and Y is hydrogen.

Claim 6

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein X is nitro and Y is nitro.

Claim 7

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein X is cyano and Y is hydrogen.

Claim 8

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein X is trifluoromethyl and Y is hydrogen.

Claim 9

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein X is tricyanoethylene and Y is hydrogen.

Claim 10

A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is hydrogen.

Claim 11

-10. A thermoplastic polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is methyl.

Claim 12

A process for producing a thermoplastic polymer containing recurring hydrazide groups which comprise reacting a polymer containing repeating anhydride units corresponding to the formula: where R is a substituent selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups, and n is the integer zero or one, with a hydrazine compound corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl and tricyanoethylene groups, and Y is a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, nitro and cyano groups, to produce a thermoplastic polymer containing recurring hydrazide units corresponding to the formula: where R, n, X and Y are as previously defined.

Claim 13

A process for producing a thermoplastic polymer containing recurring hydrazide groups which comprise reacting a polymer containing repeating anhydride units corresponding to the formula: where R is a substituent selected from hydrogen and alkyl groups, and n is the integer zero or one, with a hydrazine compound corresponding to the formula: where X is a substituent selected from nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl and tricyanoethylene groups, and Y is a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, nitro and cyano groups, to produce a thermoplastic polymer containing recurring hydrazide units corresponding to the formula: where R, n, X and Y are as previously defined.

Claim 14

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a molecular weight between about 500-500,000.

Claim 15

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the repeating hydrazide units comprise at least 10 weight percent of the total polymer weight.

Claim 16

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is poly(acrylic anhydride).

Claim 17

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is poly(methacrylic anhydride).

Claim 18

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising ethylene and maleic anhydride.

Claim 19

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising styrene and maleic anhydride.

Claim 20

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising alkyl acrylate and maleic anhydride.

Claim 21

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising alkyl methacrylate and maleic anhydride.

Claim 22

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising styrene, alkyl acrylate and maleic anhydride.

Claim 23

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising styrene, alkyl methacrylate and maleic anhydride.

Claim 24

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising styrene, vinylcarbazole and maleic anhydride.

Claim 25

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising acrylamide and maleic anhydride.

Claim 26

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising acrolein and maleic anhydride.

Claim 27

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein the anhydride-containing polymer is a copolymer of monomers comprising acrylonitrile and maleic anhydride.

Claim 28

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein X is nitro and Y is hydrogen in the thermoplastic polymer product.

Claim 29

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein X is nitro and Y is nitro in the thermoplastic polymer product.

Claim 30

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein X is cyano and Y is hydrogen in the thermoplastic polymer product.

Claim 31

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein X is trifluoromethyl and Y is hydrogen in the thermoplastic polymer product.

Claim 32

A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein X is tricyanoethylene and Y is hydrogen in the thermoplastic polymer product.

Claim 33

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a substrate of a thermoplastic polymer which contains recurring structural units corresponding to the formula: where R is a substituent selected from hydrogen and alkyl. groups, n is the integer zero or one, X is a substituent selected from nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl and tricyanoethylene groups, and Y is a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, nitro and cyano groups.

Claim 34

A nonlinear optical medium comprising a substrate of a thermoplastic polymer which contains recurring structural units corresponding to the formula: where R is a substituent selected from hydrogen and alkyl. groups, n is the integer zero or one, X is a substituent selected from nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl and tricyanoethylene groups, and Y is a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, nitro and cyano groups.

Claim 35

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 31 wherein the substrate is in the form of an optically transparent film.

Claim 36

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with- claim 31 wherein the substrate is noncentrosymmetric and exhibits second order nonlinear optical response.

Claim 37

A nonlinear optical medium in accordance with claim 31 wherein the substrate is centrosymmetric and exhibits third order nonlinear optical response.