Abstract
Polyamides derived from the reaction of bis(2-oxazolin-5-one)s (bisazlactones) and diamines readily cyclodehydrate thermally to produce polymers containing 2-imidazolin-5-one units. To utilize bisazlactones in the synthesis of other heterocyclic polymer systems, azlactones have been considered as reagents to convert o-phenylenediamines into benzimidazoles. The facile preparation of benzimidazoles from the reaction of azlactones and o-phenylenediamines, and the extension of this reaction to the preparation of poly(amide-benzimidazole)s are reported. 20 ref.--AA