Polyalkylene sulfides. VI. New polymers capable of cross‐linking

The formation of polymers from diolefins and dimercaptans has been extended to some new monomer combinations to yield strong, slightly elastic fibrous polymers which contain groups that permit subsequent cross‐linking. Osmotic molecular weight data have been obtained on a variety of polymers with different inherent viscosities. Polymers with a molecular weight of 60,000 have been obtained from biallyl and hexamethylenedithiol. Diallyl sulfide has been found to be relatively unreactive toward the addition of a mercaptan under the conditions used. This indicates that a sulfur atom beta to the double bond interferes with the free radical‐catalyzed addition of a mercaptan. The basecatalyzed reaction of hexamethylenedithiol and the cross‐conjugated dienone, dibenzalacetone, has yielded a rubbery‐type polymer.