Process for the production of a polyphenylene ether protected from molecular weight degradation

摘要

A process for the production of a polyphenylene ether by quenching a transition metal catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of a di-ortho-substituted phenol, and separation of the metal component. The process comprises: (1) removing the oxygen required for the coupling reaction, (2) contacting the reaction solution with hydrogen sulfide, a solution containing sulfide ions or a mixture thereof, and (3) separating the resulting precipitate.