Abstract: An amorphous modified poly(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (PPO) is described with a glass transition temperature (Tg) within the range of 170.degree.-220.degree. C., of which the macromolecules contain units having trialkylsilyl groups bonded to the nucleus and/or to the methyl: ##STR1## together with units having hydroxyethyl groups bonded to the nucleus and/or to the methyl: ##STR2## This modified PPO is prepared by metalating PPO with a metalating agent and reacting the formed metalated PPO with a trialkylsilyl halide and with ehtylene oxide in succession.The use of the thus modified PPO for the preparation of flat, including asymmetric, membranes useful in gas mixture separation processes is described.

Abstract: A process for preparing a modified, amorphous poly-(2,6-dimethyl-p-oxyphenylene) (PPO) comprises:(a) metalating PPO with a metalating agent, and(b) functionalizing such a metalated PPO by reacting the PPO with a trialkylsilyl halide and/or ethylene oxide; and is characterized in that the reaction of metalation is carried out in an inert liquid vehicle which contains PPO in an at least partially suspended solid form, by operating under metalating conditions of gradually adding metalating agent to such a suspension, either continuously or as discrete portions. Depending on the functionalizing agents used, and on the sequence of addition thereof, the process makes it possible to obtain PPO polymers which are modified with trialkyl-silyl, hydroxyethylene and/or ethyleneoxytrialkyl-silyl functional groups. The modified PPO polymers are particularly suitable for preparing flat membranes, including asymmetrical membranes, for the separation of gas mixtures.