Sulfur‐containing polymers. VI. Preparation of poly[alkylene bis(oxycarbonyl) disulfides] and related polymers

Abstract

AbstractPoly[alkylene bis(oxycarbonyl) disulfides] have been prepared for the first time by the reductive coupling of alkylene bis(oxycarbonylsulfenyl chlorides). Potassium iodide and a variety of transition metals or their salts were employed as reducing agents. Of these potassium iodide and cuprous chloride gave the best results. Pyrolysis, desulfurization. and thiol‐induced fragmentation of the polymers have been studied. Homologous polymers, i.e., monosulfide polymer, trisulfide polymer, and tetrasulfide polymer, have been also synthesized. Monosulfide and disulfide polymers were highly crystalline solids. Trisulfide polymer was a white solid with a low degree of crystallinity. These polymers were soluble in chloroform and dichloromethane. Tetrasulfide polymer was a crystalline yellow solid and was soluble only in HMPA.