
4 Poly(phenylene ether)s
Around 1956, the oxidative coupling of 2,6-
substituted phenols to yield high molecular products
was discovered [1,2]. Poly(phenylene ether) (PPE),
also known as poly(phenylene oxide), was commer-
cialized in 1964by GeneralElectric [3] and AKZO[4],
and eventually by several other companies. Remark-
ably, the oxidative coupling of phenols plays a role in
certain biological reactions, e.g., in the formation of
lignin or melamine [5].
4.1 Monomers
Preferred monomers for PPE are shown in
Table 4.1 and in Figure 4.1. Alkylphenols are oxidized
by air andmust be stored under nitrogen to preventoxi-
dation reactions. The oxidative coupling ...