Process for preparing epoxy group-containing curable polyphenylene ether resin using high-molecular-weight polyphenylene resin

A process for preparing an epoxy group-containing curable polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin, comprising:

• reacting a polyphenylene ether resin represented by formula (I), a strong base, and a compound containing a leaving group and epoxy group to obtain a curable polyphenylene ether resin represented by formula (II), wherein formula (I) has a number average molecular weight higher than 3000 and is
• 23
• wherein
• R1 can be the same or different and is H, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or
• 24
• wherein R11 is alkylene having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R12 is aryl;
• Z1 can be the same or different and is H, OH, or
• 25
• and at least one Z1 is OH or
• 26
• wherein R13 is aryl;
• and
• p is from 25 to 165,
• wherein the compound containing leaving group and epoxy group has the formula (A):
• 27
• wherein
• X is a leaving group of halogen or sulfonate;
• and
• n is an integer of 1 to 6,
• wherein the formula (II) is:
• 28
• wherein
• R2 can be the same or different and is H, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms,
• 29
• wherein
• R11 is alkylene having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;
• R12 is aryl;
• n is an integer of 1 to 6;
• and
• s is 0 or an integer of 1 to 6;
• Z2 can be the same or different and is H, OH,
• 30
• and at least one Z2 is a group represented by formula (i), wherein R13 is aryl, n and s are defined above;
• and
• p is 25 to 165.