Method for preparing polyphenylene ethers

Claim 2

In a process for the preparation of a high-molecular weight polyphenylene ether having a degree of polymerization of at least 50 by oxidatively coupling a monovalent phenol having substitution in at least the two ortho positions and hydrogen or halogen in the para-position, using an oxygen-containing gas, a solvent and a complex catalyst comprising a metal salt and an amine as an oxidizing agent, the improvement which comprises adding to the reaction mixture from 0.001 to 0.2 percent by weight of reaction mixture a compound of the formula: ##STR4## wherein R 1 and R 2 may both be alkyl of from 6-22 carbon atoms or alkenyl of from 10-22 carbon atoms or one of R 1 and R 2 may be -(CH 2 CH 2 -o-).sub. x H; x is an integer of from 1 to 40.

Claim 3

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the polyphenylene ether has repeating units of the formula: ##STR5## wherein the oxygen ether atom of one unit is connected to the benzene nucleus of the next adjoining unit, n is an integer of at least 50; and Q and Q' are monovalent substituents selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbon radicals, halohydrocarbon radicals having at least two carbon atoms between the halogen atom and the phenyl nucleus.

Claim 4

A process as defined in claim 2 wherein said polyphenylene ether is poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether).

Claim 5

A process as defined in claim 3 wherein said reaction mixture also includes an alkali metal bromide or an alkaline earth metal bromide.

Claim 6

A process as defined in claim 4 wherein said reaction is carried out in the presence of a complex catalyst comprising a cupric salt or a cuprous salt and a diamine.

Claim 7

A process as defined in claim 2 wherein the compound of formula I is employed in an amount of from 0.01-0.2% by weight of monovalent phenol.

Claim 8

A process as defined in claim 5 wherein said reaction promoter is a compound of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R is alkyl of 16-18 carbon atoms and s and t are integers of from 1- 20.

Claim 9

In a process for the preparation of a high-molecular weight polyphenylene ether having a degree of polymerization of at least 50 by oxidatively coupling a monovalent phenol having substitution in at least the two ortho positions and hydrogen or halogen in the para-position, using an oxygencontaining gas, a solvent and a complex catalyst comprising a copper salt and an amine as an oxidizing agent, a copper chelating agent for the termination of the reaction after the polyphenylene ether reaches the desired molecular weight, the improvement which comprises adding to the reaction mixture, when the polyphenylene ether reaches the desired molecular weight, an extraction promoting amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R 1 and R 2 may both be alkyl of from 6-22 carbon atoms or alkenyl of from 6-22 carbon atoms or one of R 1 and R 2 may be -(CH 2 CH 2 -O-).sub. x H; x is an integer of from 1 to

Claim 10

In a process for the preparation of a high-molecular weight polyphenylene ether having a degree of polymerization of at least 50 by oxidatively coupling a monovalent phenol having substitution in at least the two ortho positions and hydrogen or halogen in the para-position, using an oxygencontaining gas, a solvent and a complex catalyst comprising a copper salt and an amine as an oxidizing agent, a copper chelating agent for the termination of the reaction after the polyphenylene ether reaches the desired molecular weight, the improvement which comprises adding to the reaction mixture, when the polyphenylene ether reaches the desired molecular weight, an extraction promoting amount of a compound of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R 1 and R 2 may both be alkyl of from 6-22 carbon atoms or alkenyl of from 6-22 carbon atoms or one of R 1 and R 2 may be -(CH 2 CH 2 -O-).sub. x H; x is an integer of from 1 to

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 8 wherein the polyphenylene ether is of the formula: ##STR8## wherein the oxygen ether atom of one unit is connected to the benzene nucleus of the next adjoining unit, n is an integer of at least 50; and Q and Q' are monovalent substituents selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbon radicals, halohydrocarbon radicals having at least two carbon atoms between the halogen atom and the phenyl nucleus.

Claim 12

A process as defined in claim 8 wherein said polyphenylene ether is poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether).

Claim 13

A process as defined in claim 10 wherein said reaction mixture also includes an alkali metal bromide or an alkaline earth metal bromide.

Claim 14

A process as defined in claim 10 wherein said reaction mixture is carried out in the presence of a complex catalyst comprising a cupric salt and a secondary amine.

Claim 15

A process as defined in claim 8 wherein the compound of formula I is employed in an amount of 10-200 parts per million parts of solvent.

Claim 16

A process as defined in claim 8 wherein after the addition of the chelating agent and the compound of formula I, the polyphenylene ether resin is recovered from the reaction mixture by the addition of a non-solvent.