Abstract: High-temperature coating materials are prepared by cross-linking copolymers of oligomers produced by nickel catalyzed coupling of unsubstituted aryl polyhalides with substituted organic halides.

Abstract: A coherent explosive gas phase in a gas/liquid reactor comprising a tubular body which is closed at the top and into which one or more jets of liquid which are fed from a liquid circulation and are directed downward, emerge from one or more nozzles located at the highest point of the reactor, and entrain a gas phase which is to be dispersed, introduce it into the liquid and finally produce complete dispersion of the gas, is avoided by a method wherein, before start-up of the liquid circulation, the inactive reactor is charged with an amount of liquid reactant such that a gas space corresponding to the subsequent gas hold-up of dispersed bubbles under operating conditions remains at the top of the reactor, this gas space is filled with a gas, at a pressure p.sub.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for the preparation of polyphenylene ethers by an oxidative coupling reaction. The process comprises oxidatively coupling a phenolic compound in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a copper complex of a copper compound with an N,N-disubstituted alkylene or cycloalkylene diamine having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms between the nitrogen atoms and whose substituents on the two nitrogen atoms are isopropyl or alpha tertiary alkyl, a tertiary amine, a bromine-containing compound and dimethyl amine. Unexpected short reaction times are obtained and the high molecular weight product increases in molecular weight and shows a marked decrease in bound nitrogen after moulding.

Abstract: Polyphenylene oxides are prepared by the catalytic reaction of oxygen with a monohydroxy aromatic compound such as 2,6-xylenol in a two-stage continuous process. The first stage is effected in at least one and preferably no more than two tank reactors, and the second stage in a reaction system with limited back-mixing, typically a cylindrical reactor containing multiple agitated zones. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the non-gaseous constituents of the reaction mixture are pre-mixed in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The preparation of polyphenylene oxides by oxidative coupling of monohydroxy aromatic compounds in the presence of a copper-halide-amine catalyst is improved by initially preparing a homogeneous mixture by blending said monohydroxy aromatic compound and the catalyst reagents in the absence of oxygen, and subsequently contacting said mixture with oxygen to produce said polyphenylene oxide. The pre-mixing step enables the preparation of a catalyst of high activity and long life. The improved process is particularly useful for the continuous preparation of polyphenylene oxides.

Abstract: Aromatic ethers or polyethers are produced by reacting aromatic fluorine compounds, in which one or more fluorine substituents are attached to an aromatic nucleus, with trialkyl silyl derivatives of phenols, in which one or more trialkyl silyl groups are attached to the residue of a mono- or polyphenol, or by reacting trialkyl silyl derivatives of fluorophenols with elimination of trialkylfluorosilane.

Abstract: An improved method for the production of polyphenylene ethers is disclosed. The method comprises oxidatively coupling monohydric phenols in the presence of a complex catalyst and in a liquid medium which is a solvent for the monomer and catalyst and a non-solvent for the polyphenylene ether. The polyphenylene ether precipitates to form a slurry of particulate solids which is then washed with an aqueous solution of a chelating agent to remove catalyst residue.

Abstract: A method for producing high molecular-weight polyphenylene oxides which comprises the oxidative coupling of a diortho-substituted phenol in the presence of a copper-amine complex, and an activator of a polyvalent alcohol, an alkali or alkaline earth hydroxide, and, if necessary, the hydrobromide of a secondary amine.

Abstract: A high molecular-weight polyphenylene oxide is produced by the oxidative coupling of a diortho-substituted phenol in the presence of a copper amine complex and an activator of morpholinium bromide and an alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth hydroxide.

Abstract: Described herein is an integrated process for the preparation of substantially linear high molecular weight thermoplastic polymers derived from aryl polyhalide monomers. Aryl polyhalide monomers are first prepared by the reaction of an alkali metal salt of a phenol compound, e.g., dipotassium salt of bisphenol A, with a dihalobenzenoid compound, e.g., 4,4'-dichlorophenylsulfone, in a liquid phase of an aprotic solvent and an azeotrope former, e.g., toluene. Water is removed from the reaction mass as an azeotrope until substantially anhydrous conditions are attained. The aryl polyhalide monomers are then coupled by contacting the monomers with a catalyst mixture of a nickel compound and a ligand in the presence of a reducing metal, e.g., zinc, and an aprotic solvent under substantially anhydrous conditions to form substantially linear high molecular weight thermoplastic polymers.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyphenols, including oxidative polycondensation of a phenol in an aqueous medium in the presence of an oxidizer as well as a subsequent separation of the end product. The starting phenol is mixed with an aqueous solution of an alkali of 5 to 56% concentration in a molar ratio between 1:2.4 and 1:0.25 and heated to a temperature between 70.degree. and 170.degree. C., while air, which furnishes oxygen as the oxidizer, is passed through the reaction mixture.An apparatus for carrying out the process of the invention comprises a kettle equipped with a heater, a shaft with blades mounted within said kettle and connected to a drive for revolving the shaft, a perforated pipe assembled at the bottom portion of the kettle and communicating with an air blower. The perforated pipe communicates with the air blower through an air treatment chamber.

Abstract: Poly(arylene ketones) are prepared by the reaction of difunctional aromatic compounds with derivatives of thio- or dithiocarbonic acids in the presence of a superacid catalyst system. In a preferred embodiment, diphenyl ether reacts with S-methyl chlorothioformate in HF/BF.sub.3 to produce poly(p-phenyleneoxy-p-phenylene carbonyl), i.e.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyphosphazene polymers containing fluoroalkoxy and/or aryloxy substituents is provided. The process involves the reaction of a fluoroaliphatic alcohol or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic alcohol or mixture of such alcohols with sodium hydroxide in an organic solvent or mixture of organic solvents which under appropriate conditions will form an azeotrope with water produced by the reaction. Water produced by the reaction is removed from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation thereby producing substantially dry sodium salts of said alcohols. The substantially dry sodium salts of the alcohols are then reacted with a linear polydichlorophosphazene polymer to produce polyphosphazene polymers containing fluoroalkoxy and/or aryloxy substituents.

Abstract: Improved reaction rates and yields are provided if phenolic compounds are polymerized with basic manganese chelate catalysts in a self-precipitating system comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and a water-immiscible alcohol.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, and X.sup.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine; n is an integer of from 1 to about 100; a, b, c, and d are each integers of from about 0 to about 4; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen and alkyl of from about 1 to about 15 carbon atoms; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene containing from about 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, alkylenyl containing from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkylene of from about 1 to about 5 carbon atoms, and cycloalkylenyl of the formula ##STR3## and A is selected from the group consisting of R.sup.3 CR.sup.

Abstract: New polymers comprising acyl capped quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides are described. The resulting new polymers have improved color and in combination with styrene resins provide thermoplastic compositions having improved chemical and physical properties.

Abstract: Heterocyclic-coupled linear, branched and/or crosslinked polymers of polyphenylene oxides are described which comprise poly-functional heterocyclic radicals coupled with mono- and/or polyphenoxy radicals derived from (a) polyphenylene oxides having an average hydroxyl group per molecule value greater than zero including 1.0 or less, or (b) polyphenylene oxide-quinone coupled polymers having an average hydroxyl group per molecule value greater than zero including 2.0 or less, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A process of forming linear, branched and/or cross-linked acyl-coupled polymers of quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides is described which comprises contacting di- and/or tri-functional acyl halides with quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides having an average hydroxyl group per molecule value greater than zero including 2.0 or less.

Abstract: A process of forming heterocyclic-coupled linear, branched and/or cross-linked polymers of polyphenylene oxides is described which comprises contacting heterocyclic halides with (a) polyphenylene oxides having an average hydroxyl group per molecule value greater than zero including 1.0 or less, or (b) quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides having an average hydroxyl group per molecule value greater than zero including 2.0 or less, including mixtures of (a) and (b).

Abstract: A process is disclosed which provides for an increase in the oxidative and/or thermal stability of quinone coupled polyphenylene oxides which comprises contacting quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides with a capping agent in the presence of a water soluble base, and a catalytic phase transfer agent. The resulting new polymers have improved color and in combination with styrene resins provide thermoplastic compositions having improved chemical and physical properties.

Abstract: Linear, branched and/or cross-linked acyl coupled polymers of quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides are described which comprise di- and/or tri-functional acyl radicals coupled with polyphenoxy radicals, said polyphenoxy radicals being derived from quinone-coupled polyphenylene oxides having an average hydroxyl group per molecule value greater than zero including 2.0 or less. The resulting polyphenylene oxides can be used to prepare various articles of manufacture.