Oxidative polymerization of 2,6‐xylenol by amine complexes

The manganese chloride‐tris(2‐hydroxyethyl)amine complex and copper(II)‐pyridine complexes in aqueous solution, which are inactive in organic solvents, have been found to possess a high activity for the oxidative polymerization of 2,6‐xylenol in aqueous solution. The catalytic activity increased remarkably after the addition of alkali to the manganese chloride‐tris(2‐hydroxyethyl)amine complex. Diphenoquinone, the CC coupling product, could not be found, and CO coupling occurred selectively. After adding alkali to the copper(II)‐pyridine complex hydrolysis took place. CO coupling occurs, however, selectively when the copper(II)‐tris(2‐hydroxyethyl)amine complex (1 : 1) is used which is stable against alkali.