Solid state polymerization of bis(trichlorophenoxo) cobalt(ii) complex to give poly(dichlorophenylene oxide)

Synthesis of four-coordinated (tetrahedral) trichlorophenol cobalt(II) complex with neutral ligand pyridine was achieved from the aqueous solution and its characterization was performed by UV-visible, IR spectral and CHN analysis. Solid state thermal polymerization of the complex was accomplished first at constant temperature employing different time intervals and secondly at constant decomposition time. The poly(dichlorophenylene oxide)s so synthesized were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectral analysis, T_g determination, as well as measurement of molecular weight by a viscometric method.