Synthesis of poly(oxovinyl sulfide)s by vinylogous nucleophilic substitution polymerizations of bis(3‐chloroacryloyl) derivatives of benzene with 4, 4′‐oxydibenzenethiol

Poly(oxovinyl sulfide)s 3 were prepared by vinylogous nucleophilic substitution polymerization of bis(3‐chloroacryloyl) derivatives of benzenes (1a and 1b) with 4,4′‐oxydibenzenethiol (2). The synthesis involves solution polycondensation and two‐phase polycondensation with phase transfer catalysts. Polymers having inherent viscosities in the range of 0,2–0,7 dl·g−1 were obtained quantitatively by both methods. They are soluble in concentrated sulfuric acid, dichloroacetic acid, and m‐cresol, and practically insoluble in polar aprotic solvents and common organic solvents. Thermogravimetric studies in both air and nitrogen atmospheres indicated that the decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss of the polymers were about 400°C.