US 7,595,367 B2
Poly(arylene ether) preparation method
Alvaro Carrillo, Delmar, N.Y. (US); Hua Guo, Selkirk, N.Y. (US); Alexey Kruglov, Glenmont, N.Y. (US); and Edward Norman Peters, Lenox, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V., (Netherlands)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/845,823.
Prior Publication US 2009/0062478 A1, Mar. 05, 2009
Int. Cl. C08F 283/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 525—391  [528/486; 528/489; 528/499; 528/501] 31 Claims
 
1. A method of preparing a capped poly(arylene ether), comprising:
reacting a poly(arylene ether) with a capping agent in the presence of a solvent and a capping catalyst to form a capping reaction mixture comprising a capped poly(arylene ether), solvent, capping agent, capping catalyst, and a capping byproduct;
washing the capping reaction mixture with a basic aqueous solution comprising 10 to 15 weight percent of a base to yield a purified solution comprising capped poly(arylene ether) and solvent; wherein the washing the capping reaction mixture with a basic aqueous solution is conducted at a temperature of 60 to 95° C.; and wherein the capping reaction mixture and the basic aqueous solution are used in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 25:1; and
isolating the capped poly(arylene ether) by a total isolation method.