Patent ID: 6962744

Claim:
A process for the production of a bifunctional phenylene ether oligomer of the formula (1), obtained by oxidation polymerization of a bivalent phenol of the formula (2) and a monovalent phenol of the formula (3), wherein —X— is represented by the formula (2′), in which R2, R3, R4, R8 and R9 may be the same or different and are a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms or a phenyl group, R5, R6 and R7 may be the some or different and are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms or a phenyl group, Y—O— is represented by the formula (3′), in which R10 and R11 may be the same or different and are a halogen atom or an alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms or a phenyl group, R12 and R13 may be the same or different and are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms or a phenyl group, provided that Y—O— is an arrangement of one kind of structure defined by the formula (3′) or a random arrangement of at least two kinds of structures defined by the formula (3′), and each of a and b is an integer of 0 to 300, provided that at least either a or b is not 0, R2, R3, R4, R8, R9, R10 and R11 in the formula (2′) and the formula (3′) being required not to be a hydrogen atom, which process comprises carrying out an oxidation polymerization of a bivalent phenol of the formula (2) and a monovalent phenol of the formula (3) in a solvent in a bivalent phenol:monovalent phenol molar ratio in the range of from 1:1 to 1:10.