A new triphenylamine-containing aromatic diamine, N,N-bis(4-aminophenyl)-N′,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, was synthesized from the amination reaction between 4-aminotriphenylamine and 4-fluoronitrobenzene and subsequent reduction of the dinitro intermediate. A series of novel aromatic poly(amine-imide)s with pendent triphenylamine units were prepared from the newly synthesized diamine and various tetracarboxylic dianhydrides by either a one-step or a conventional two-step polymerization process. All the poly(amine-imide)s were amorphous and readily soluble in many organic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N-dimethylacetamide, and chloroform. These polymers could be solution cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with good mechanical properties. They had useful levels of thermal stability associated with relatively high glass transition temperatures (264-352 °C), 10% weight-loss temperatures in excess of 568 °C, and char yields at 800 °C in nitrogen higher than 63%. These polymers exhibited strong UV-vis absorption bands at 311-330 nm in NMP solution. The photoluminescence spectra showed maximum bands around 545-562 nm in the green region. The holetransporting and electrochromic properties are examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the poly(amine-imide) films cast onto an indium-tin oxide (ITO)coated glass substrate exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at 0.78 and 1.14 V versus Ag/ AgCl in acetonitrile solution. The poly(amine-imide) films revealed excellent stability of electrochromic characteristics, with a color change from the pale yellowish neutral form to the green and blue oxidized forms at applied potentials ranging from 0.78 to 1.14 V.

A 4-methoxy-substituted triphenylamine containing the aromatic diamine, 4,49-diamino-40-methoxytriphenylamine (2), was synthesized by the caesium fluoride-mediated condensation of p-anisidine with 4-fluoronitrobenzene, followed by palladium-catalyzed hydrazine reduction of the dinitro intermediate. A series of new polyamides with pendent 4-methoxy-substituted triphenylamine (TPA) units having inherent viscosities of 0.27-1.39 dL g 21 were prepared via the direct phosphorylation polycondensation of various dicarboxylic acids and the diamine (2). All the polymers were readily soluble in many organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and could be solution-cast into tough and flexible polymer films. These aromatic polyamides had useful levels of thermal stability associated with their relatively high softening temperature (242-282 uC), 10% weight-loss temperatures in excess of 470 uC, and char yields at 800 uC in nitrogen higher than 60%. The hole-transporting and electrochromic properties are examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide films cast onto an indium-tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate exhibited reversible oxidation at 0.73-0.79 V versus Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile solution, and revealed excellent stability of electrochromic characteristics with a color change from colorless to green at applied potentials ranging from 0.00 to 1.05 V. These anodically polymeric electrochromic materials not only showed excellent reversible electrochromic stability with good green coloration efficiency (CE = 374 cm 2 C 21 ) but also exhibited high contrast of optical transmittance change (DT %) up to 85% at 787 nm and 30% at 391 nm. After over 1000 cyclic switches, the polymer films still exhibited excellent stability of electrochromic characteristics.

Background and Purpose. The goal of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of measurements obtained with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) for evaluation of preterm infants in Taiwan. Subjects. Two independent groups of preterm infants were used to investigate the reliability (n=45) and validity (n=41) for the AIMS. Methods. In the reliability study, the AIMS was administered to the infants by a physical therapist, and infant performance was videotaped. The performance was then rescored by the same therapist and by 2 other therapists to examine the intrarater and interrater reliability. In the validity study, the AIMS and the Bayley Motor Scale were administered to the infants at 6 and 12 months of age to examine criterion-related validity. Results. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intrarater and interrater reliability of measurements obtained with the AIMS were high (ICC=.97–.99). The AIMS scores correlated with the Bayley Motor Scale scores at 6 and 12 months (r=.78 and .90), although the AIMS scores at 6 months were only moderately predictive of the motor function at 12 months (r=.56). Conclusion and Discussion. The results suggest that measurements obtained with the AIMS have acceptable reliability and concurrent validity but limited predictive value for evaluating preterm Taiwanese infants.

A new adamantane-based dietheramine, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]adamantane, was prepared in two steps from chloro displacement of p-chloronitrobenzene with the potassium phenolate of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane, followed by hydrazine catalytic reduction of the intermediate dinitro compound. A series of polyimides with the adamantane-2,2-diyl unit as a cardo group was prepared from the adamantane-based dietheramine and various aromatic dianhydrides by a conventional twostage synthesis in which the poly(amic acid)s obtained in the first stage were heated stage-by-stage at 150-270 °C to give the polyimides. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities between 0.82 and 1.66 dL/g. Except for the polyimide from pyromellitic dianhydride, all of the polyimides could be dissolved in NMP, and several polyimides also showed good solubility in other organic solvents. All of the polyimides were amorphous in nature as evidenced by X-ray diffractograms. The glass-transition temperatures (T g) of these polyimides were recorded between 248 and 308 °C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the softening temperatures (Ts) determined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA) stayed in the range of 254-335 °C. Decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss all occurred above 500 °C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres.