CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF POLY(2,6-DIMETHYL-1,4-PHENYLENE OXIDE) BY BROMINATION-ALKYNYLATION

The chemical modification of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) by bromination of the aromatic ring, followed by displacement of bromine with substituted acetylenes, has been investigated. This pathway leads to a series of novel copolymers containing substituted alkynes on the aromatic ring. The degree of bromination and alkynylation, determined by H-1-NMR, was in the range of 20-85 and 15-80%, respectively. C-13-NMR and FT-IR unambiguously elucidated the structure of the alkynylated polymers. Finally, thermal properties and permeation properties of substituted PPO to carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, and nitrogen are reported. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.