Regio-controlled Oxidative Polymerization of 2,5-Dimethylphenol by Using CuCl–TMEDA Complex

A regio-controlled poly(2,5-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) was successfully prepared by the oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,5-dimethylphenol using di-μ-hydroxobis[(N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) copper(II)] as a catalyst under oxygen. The catalyst effectively promoted the regio-controlled polymerization even at the concentration of 0.1 mol % to the monomer, and the resulting polymer showed a melting temperature at 280 °C