Oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol with a copper-amine catalyst immobilized within the interior of SBA-15

Abstract

An effective method to control polydispersity (Mw/Mn) in the oxidative coupling polymerization of 2.6-dimethylphenol has been developed. SBA-15 functionalized with N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'-trimethoxysilylpropyl -ethylenediamine and copper chloride (I) produced a polymer with the number average molecular weight (Mn) of 44,000 and Mw/M n of 3.9, when the polymerization was conducted in toluene/pyridine (5/1 volume ratio) at 40°C for 12 h under oxygen.