Catalyzed oxidative polymerization to form poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) in water using water-soluble copper complex

Simply stirring 2,6-dimethylphenol with a small amount of copper complex catalyst in alkaline water provided a green way to prepare poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) in water. We have searched for the optimum alkaline-resistant metal catalyst from a series of water-soluble copper complexes. The formed polymer was easily separated as an off-white powder by filtration after salting out.