PURPOSE: To obtain the titled high-quality ether, by oxidatively polymerizing a phenolic compound in the presence of a highly active catalyst having improved water resistance consisting of a copper compound, N-phenylethanolamine, a specific secondary amine and a tertiary amine.
CONSTITUTION: A phenolic compound is polymerized with O2 in the presence of a catalyst consisting of (A) a copper compound (preferably cuprous chloride, etc.), (B) N-phenylethanolamine, (C) a 1,2-diamine shown by the formula R1- NH-R-NHR2 (R1 and R2 are isopropyl, 3W8C tertiary alkyl or cycloalkyl containing no hydrogen on α-CO) (preferably N,N'-d-t-butylethylendiamine, etc.) and (D) a tertiary amine. Preferably the amount of the component A is 0.03W0.05 gram atom (based on 100mol phenolic compound), the amount of the component B is 0.1W5mols and the amounts of the components C and D are 1W4mols and 10W40mols (based on 1 copper gram atom), respectively.
SAKURAI TOKIO
TAKAHASHI KAZUHIRO
