Preparation of Poly(phenylene sulfide)s: Polymerization of Aromatic Disulfides with Lewis Acids

Poly(p-phenylene sulfide) is prepared through the polymerization of diphenyl disulfide with various Lewis acids, such as AlCl3 and SbCl5. Thiophenol also yield poly(p-phenylene sulfide) through its oxidation to diphenyl disulfide in the presence of an oxidizing agent or electrolysis during polymerization. Alkyl-substituted diphenyl disulfides are polymerized with a Lewis acid to efficiently yield alkyl-substituted poly(p-phenylene sulfide)s such as poly(2-methyl-, 2,6-dimethyl-, and 2,6-diethylphenylene sulfide)s, with high molecular weight and solubility in common solvents.