METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CRYSTALLINE POLY(2,5- DISUBSTITUTED-1,4-PHENYLENEOXIDE) AND CATALYST THEREFOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel method for manufacturing a crystalline poly(2,5- disubstituted-1,4-phenyleneoxide) and a catalyst therefor. SOLUTION: A 2,5-disubstituted phenol such as 2,5-dimethyl phenol is oxidation-polymerized in the presence of a catalyst consisting of (A) a copper compound and (B) a unidentate ligand compound represented by fonnula (III) such as 2,6-dimethylpyridine or 2-methylpyridine wherein (B)/(A) is 0.01-100 (molar ratio). The solvent for use in the polymerization is an organic compound (i) that has a dielectric constant of <=9 at 20-25 deg.C and/or (ii) that is used in an amount of <=4.0 L/mol based on the 2,5-disubstituted phenol. The polymerization is carried out until the conversion of the phenol reaches 50.0-99.5%.