Oxdative polymerization of phenols in water

We have recently succeeded in and reported the oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol in aqueous media to yield poly(2,6-dimethylphenyleneoxide) (PPO) as an off-white powder by filtration. We report in this paper the oxidative polymerization of phenol derivatives in aqueous media. Phenol was vigorously stirred in the aqueous alkaline solution with an oxidant. The addition of surfactants was effective to increase the polymer yield. The DMF-soluble part was identified as a polymer involving the mixture structure of phenylene and oxyphenylene units by ¹H-NMR. Phenol derivatives such as o-cresol were also polymerizable in the alkaline water. The polymerization mechanism is also discussed.