| Abstract: | Polymer-bound imidazole-copper(II) complexes were investigated and applied as catalysts for oxidative coupling (polymerization) of 2,6-dialkylphenols. These polymeric catalysts were also immobilized on silica particles through adsorption, quaternization and grafting. Especially, the grafted catalysts showed interesting catalytic properties, e.g. good specificity for C-O coupling and very good stability during prolonged use in continuous processes. This stability furnished new information about the mechanism of the oxidative coupling polymerization. Finally, this reaction was optimized for the preparation of PPO-type telechelics. |
