| abstract |
High molecular weight polyphenylene ethers are prepared from monohydric phenols by an oxidative coupling reaction with oxygen in the presence of a solvent and of a catalyst complex consisting of a copper salt and an organic amine of the general formula <IMAGE> where R1 is C2-C20-alkylidene, preferably C2-C12-alkylidene, or alkenylidene, R2 is H or C1-C12-alkyl, preferably C1-C4-alkyl, or C5-C8-cycloalkyl, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by functional groups, and n is an integer from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2. Preferred functional groups are -OR3, -NHR3 or -SR3, in which R3 is H C1-C12-alkyl or C5-C8-cycloalkyl, and the most suitable amines are 3-tert.-butoxypropylamine, 4-tert.-butoxybutylamine, 3-tert.-butoxy-2-methylpropylamine, 3-tert.-butoxy-2,3-dimethylpropylamine, 3-tert.-butoxy-2-methyloctylamine and N-methyl-N-(4-tert.-butoxybutyl)-amine. The polyphenylene ethers can be processed to moldings by a thermoplastic method. |