Novel synthesis of aromatic polysulfides from S,S′‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐substituted aromatic dithiols and activated aromatic dihalides

A new method for the synthesis of aromatic polysulfides has been developed by the polycondensation of S , S ′‐bis(trimethylsilyl)‐substituted aromatic dithiols with activated aromatic dihalides. The solution polycondensation of three S ‐silylated aromatic dithiols with bis(4‐chloro‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone afforded readily aromatic polysulfides having inherent viscosities of 0.7 dL/g, and the polymerization with bis(4‐fluorophenyl) sulfone gave the polymers with viscosity values of 0.3 dL/g. The silylation method was compared advantageously with a conventional route using parent dithiols and activated aromatic dihalides.