Patent ID: 8308892

Claim:
A method for preparing a chain-extended bismaleimide comprising: a) mixing a molar excess of at least one bismaleimide with at least one di-cinnamyl compound; and b) heating the mixture of step (a), thereby preparing a chain-extended bismaleimide, wherein the at least one di-cinnamyl compound is selected from the group consisting of a di-cinnamyl ester, a di-cinnamyl amide, a di-cinnamyl ether and a di-cinnamyl ketone, the at least one di-cinnamyl compound having the structure of formula I: wherein: each Q is independently selected from the group consisting of —C(O)O—, —C(O)NH—, —OC(O)O—, —O—, —OC(O)— and —NHC(O)—; R is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted C 2 to C 100 aliphatic or heteroaliphatic, a C 3 to C 8 cycloaliphatic, a branched aliphatic, a branched hetero aliphatic, a heterocyclic, a heteroaromatic, an aryl, a polyaryl and a silicone containing 2-20 silicon atoms optionally substituted with one or two methyl or phenyl groups; each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and methyl; each m is an integer independently having the value of 0 or 1; and each n is an integer independently having the value of 0 or 1.