Synthesis and characterization of poly(2,6-diarylphenylene oxide)s

The oxidative polymerization of 2,6-diphenylphenol that contains substituents (fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, cyano, t-butyl, phenoxy, methoxy, phthalimidyl) in the para-positions of the pendant phenyl groups is described. The melting points of the monomers, with some exceptions, correlate with the glass transition temperatures and the melting points of the corresponding polymers. Random copolymers of some of these phenols with 2,6-diphenylphenol have also been prepared and characterized. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.