THE AMINATION KINETICS OF BROMOMETHYLATED POLY(2,6-DIMETHYL-1,4-PHENYLENE OXIDE) WITH DIETHYLAMINE

We have studied the influence of temperature, the type of solvent, and concentration of reagents on the kinetics of amination reaction of a bromomethyl derivative of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) with diethylamine. The amination reaction was found to follow a secon d-order rate law. The rate of reaction decreases together with decreas ing polarity of the reaction medium. At high temperatures (80 and 100- degrees-C), or if the mixture becomes thicker by removal of the solven t, we observed crosslinking of the polymer caused by reaction of unrea cted bromomethyl groups of PPO with already bound diethylamine groups to the neighboring polymer chains with the formation of an ammonium sa lt. The gel portion grows with increasing temperature and with the con centration of polymer in the reaction mixture.