Preparation of polyphenylene ethers

US4618668A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Volker Muench · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Juergen Hambrecht · Heidelberg, DE
• Walter Himmele · Monsheim, DE
• Adolf Echte · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Johann Swoboda · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 11, 1985
• Grant date: Oct 21, 1986
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08G65/44
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

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 ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkylidene, preferably C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 -alkylidene, or alkenylidene, R.sup.2 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl, preferably C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, or C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -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 --OR.sup.3, --NHR.sup.3 or --SR.sup.3, in which R.sup.3 is H C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkyl or C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 -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.