Phenylene oxide

The polymer described in the last problem is commercially called poly (phenylene oxide), which is not a proper name for a molecule with this structure. Propose a more correct name. Use the results of the last problem to criticize or defend the following proposition The experimental data for dimer polymerization can be understood if it is assumed that one molecule of water and one molecule of monomer may split out in the condensation step. Steps involving incorporation of the monomer itself (with only water split out) also occur. 

Poly(2-(4-t-butyl)phenyl-6-phenyl)-l,4-phenylene oxide) [79569-10-1]... 

Physical or chemical vapor-phase mechanisms may be reasonably hypothesized in cases where a phosphoms flame retardant is found to be effective in a noncharring polymer, and especially where the flame retardant or phosphoms-containing breakdown products are capable of being vaporized at the temperature of the pyrolyzing surface. In the engineering of thermoplastic Noryl (General Electric), which consists of a blend of a charrable poly(phenylene oxide) and a poorly charrable polystyrene, experimental evidence indicates that effective flame retardants such as triphenyl phosphate act in the vapor phase to suppress the flammabiUty of the polystyrene pyrolysis products (36). 

The more familiar source-based names for these polymers are poly(phenylene oxide) (1), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (2), and polycaprolactam (3). 

Polymer Blends. Commercial blends of nylon with other polymers have also been produced in order to obtain a balance of the properties of the two materials or to reduce moisture uptake. Blends of nylon-6,6 with poly(phenylene oxide) have been most successflil, but blends of nylon-6,6 and nylon-6 with polypropylene have also been introduced. 

One class of aromatic polyethers consists of polymers with only aromatic rings and ether linkages ia the backbone poly(phenylene oxide)s are examples and are the principal emphasis of this article. A second type contains a wide variety of other functional groups ia the backbone, ia addition to the aromatic units and ether linkages. Many of these polymers are covered ia other articles, based on the other fiinctionahty (see Polymers containing sulfur, POLYSULFONES). 

Many newer poly(phenylene oxide)s have been reported ia the early 1990s. Eor example, a number of poly(2,6-diphenyl-l,4-phenylene oxide)s were prepared with substituents ia the 4-positions of the pendent phenyl groups. Of particular iaterest is the 4-fluoro substitueat, which imparts a lower melting poiat, enhanced solubiUty, and a lesser tendency to crystallize than has been found for the parent material (1). 

Table 1. Thermal Properties of Poly(Phenylene Oxides)s...

The backbone of poly(phenylene oxide)s is cleaved under certain extreme reaction conditions. Lithium biphenyl reduces DMPPO to low molecular weight products in the dimer and trimer molecular weight range (20) and converts poly(2,6-diphenyl-l,4-phenylene oxide) to 3,5-diphenylphenol in 85% yield (21) (eq. 4). 

Poly(phenylene oxide)s undergo many substitution reactions (25). Reactions involving the aromatic rings and the methyl groups of DMPPO include bromination (26), displacement of the resultant bromine with phosphoms or amines (27), lithiation (28), and maleic anhydride grafting (29). Additional reactions at the open 3-position on the ring include nitration, alkylation (30), and amidation with isocyanates (31). 

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