Spontaneous Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Macrocyclic Aromatic Thioether Ketones under Transient High‐Temperature Conditions

Summary: Spontaneous ring‐opening polymerization of macrocyclic aromatic thioether ketones [1,4‐SC6H4COC6H4]n (n = 3 and 4), in which the thioether linkages are para to the ketone, occurs during rapid, transient heating to 480 °C, to afford a soluble, semi‐crystalline poly(thioether ketone) of high molar mass (ηinh > 1.0 dL · g−1). Corresponding macrocyclic ether ketones, and a macrocyclic thioether ether ketone in which the thioether linkage is para to the ether rather than to the ketone, show no evidence of polymerization under analogous conditions. The uncatalysed ring‐opening polymerization of macrocycle 1, within the pores of an alumina microfiltration membrane, leads to formation of polymer 3 with the microstructure shown in the above scanning electron micrograph. magnified image The uncatalysed ring‐opening polymerization of macrocycle 1, within the pores of an alumina microfiltration membrane, leads to formation of polymer 3 with the microstructure shown in the above scanning electron micrograph.