Aromatic polyethers containing cyano groups for gas separation

Claim 2

A membrane for gas separations comprising a polycyanoarylether.

Claim 3

The membrane of claim 1 wherein the polycyanoarylether of the formula (--Ar a --O--Ar a '--O--Ar b --O--Ar b '--O--) n where Ar a , Ar a ', Ar b and Ar b ' are aryl groups and where Ar a ' and Ar b ' are aromatic rings at least one of the Ar a ' or Ar b ' rings having at least one cyano group directly attached thereto.

Claim 4

The membrane of claim 2 wherein Ar a and Ar b are independently selected from ##STR19## phenolphthalein, or substituted phenolphthaleins where --Z-- is any one of carbon-carbon single bond, or ##STR20## where R 1 and R 2 independently are H, C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 1 -C 10 fluoroalkyl, or C 6 -C 14 aryl; where X 1 and X 2 independently are C 1 -C 10 alkyl, C 1 -C 10 fluoroalkyl or C 6 -C 14 aryl; and where Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , and Y 4 independently are halogen, R 1 , R 2 ; and where Ar a ' and Ar b ' are independently selected from ##STR21## where --Q--is --SO 2 -- or ##STR22## where --Z 1 is C.tbd.N, --NO 2 , --SO 2 R, or ##STR23## R is C 1 -C 10 alkyl or C 6 -C 18 aryl; and --Z 2 , --Z 3 and --Z 4 are --Z 1 or --H; wherein at least one of Ar a ' or Ar b ' is selected from ##STR24## where --Z 1 is C.tbd.N and --Z 2 , --Z 3 , and --Z 4 are defined as above.

Claim 5

The membrane of claim 3 wherein Ar a and Ar b are independently selected from ##STR25##

Claim 6

The membrane of claim 4 where Ar a and Ar b are independently selected from ##STR26##

Claim 7

The membrane of claim 5 wherein Ar a ' and Ar b ' are independently selected from ##STR27## wherein at least one of Ar a ' or Ar b ' is selected from ##STR28##

Claim 8

The membrane of claim 2 wherein Ar a is the same as Ar b and Ar a ' is different from Ar b '.

Claim 9

The membrane of claim 2 wherein Ar a ' is the same as Ar b ' and Ar a is different from Ar b .

Claim 10

The membrane of claim 2 wherein Ar a is different from Ar b and Ar a ' is different from Ar b '.

Claim 11

The membrane of claim 2 wherein Ar a is the same as Ar b and wherein Ar a ' is the same as Ar b ', both Ar a ' and Ar b ' being aromatic rings having at least one cyano group attached thereto.

Claim 12

The membrane of claim 3 wherein Ar a is different from Ar b and Ar a ' is the same as Ar b ', both Ar a ' and Ar b ' being selected from ##STR29## where --Z 1 is --C.tbd.N and --Z 2 , --Z 3 , and --Z 4 are selected from --Z 1 , --H, --NO 2 , --So 2 R, or ##STR30## where R is C 1 -C 10 alkyl or C 6 -C 18 aryl.

Claim 13

The membrane of claim 3 wherein Ar a is the same as Ar b and wherein Ar a ' is different from Ar b '.

Claim 14

The membrane of claim 3 wherein Ar a is different from Ar b and wherein Ar a ' is different from Ar b '.

Claim 15

The membrane of claim 3 wherein Ar a is the same as Ar b and wherein Ar a ' is the same as Ar b ', both Ar a ' and Ar b ' being selected from ##STR31## where --Z 1 is --C.tbd.N and --Z 2 , --Z 3 , and --Z 4 are selected from --Z 1 , --H, --NO 2 , --So 2 R, or ##STR32## where R is C 1 -C 10 alkyl or C 6 -C 18 aryl.