Preparation of Poly 2,6-dimethylphenylene ether

Safety precautions Before this experiment is carried out. Sect. 2.2.5 must be read as well as the material safety data sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals and products used. 

Poly(2,6-dimethylphenylene ether) can be prepared by dehydrogenation of 2,6-dimethylphenol with oxygen in the presence of copper(l) chloride/pyridine as catalyst at room temperature. It is known that the mechanism involves a stepwise reaction, probably proceeding via a copper phenolate complex that is then dehydrogenated. 

When working with larger quantities, the temperature can be kept constant by external cooling. A temperature of 30 °C is advantageous for the formation of a high-molecular- 

Poly(2,6-dimethylphenylene ether) is amorphous and has a glass transition temperature of about 170 °C. It is soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, as well as tetrachloroethane,and also in nitrobenzene and toluene. 

It is mainly used as a homogeneous blend with polystyrene (see Sect. 5.5). 

---