Functional polyarylethers

A membrane comprising functional polyarylether comprising structural units of formula

• wherein
• X is selected from OOCR6, R7, NR4COR5, NR4CONR5R6,
• NR4COOR5R6,
• and combinations thereof;
• R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence CH2X, H, halo, cyano, nitro, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• R4 and R5 are independently H, a C1-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof;
• R6 is H, a C2-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• R7 is OCH2CH2(OCH2CH2)qOCH3 or OOCCH2(OCH2CH2)qOCH3;
• Q is a direct bond, O, S, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• Z is a direct bond, O, S, SO, SO2, CO, phenylphospinyl oxide, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• a, b, and c are independently 1 or 2;
• m, n and p are independently 0 or 1;
• and q is 1-8.

A process for preparing polyarylether, said process comprising combining a bromopolyarylether and a nucleophile with a copper catalyst under basic conditions;

• wherein the bromoarylether comprises structural units of formula
• the nucleophile is selected from the group consisting of;
• HOOCR6;
• HR7;
• HNR4COR5;
• HNR4CONR4R5,
• and combinations thereof;
• X is Br;
• R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence CH2X, H, halo, cyano, nitro, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• R4 and R5 are independently H, a C1-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical, or a combination thereof;
• R6 is a C2-10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• R7 is OCH2CH2(OCH2CH2)qOCH3 or OOCCH2(OCH2CH2)qOCH3;
• Z is a direct bond, O, S, CH2, SO, SO2, CO, phenylphospinyl oxide, alkenyl, alkynyl, a C1-C12 aliphatic radical, a C3-C12 cycloaliphatic radical, a C3-C12 aromatic radical or a combination thereof;
• a, b, and c are independently 1 or 2;
• m, n and p are independently 0 or 1;
• and
• q is 1-8.