Characterization of acetylene terminated sulfone (ATS) resin. I. Chemical characterization of the resin

An acetylene terminated sulfone resin mixture, prepared under contract for the Air Force, was subjected to a fairly extensive compositional analysis. Monomer, dimer, higher oligomers, solvents, and anomalous side products of synthesis were isolated, identified, and quantified using separatory procedures such as column chromatography and thin film flash distillation, in conjunction with techniques of chemical analysis such as infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and elemental analysis. By these means we were able to precisely characterize the resin mixture and, by so doing, identify some side products of synthesis; most notably, a class of abnormal coupling product able to chelato palladium (a catalyst used in acetylation of the resin) and, therefore, accelerate subsequent acetylene polymerizations in the resin mixture.