Oxidative Polymerization of 2,6‐Dimethylphenol To Form Poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenyleneoxide) in Water

Abstract

Green polymerization: The simple stirring of 2,6-dimethylphenol with an excess of oxidant or a catalytic amount of a copper complex in an alkaline aqueous solution yields poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenyleneoxide), a commercially important polymer (see scheme). The formed polymer was easily separated as an off-white powder by filtration.