Room temperature synthesis of polythioamides from multicomponent polymerization of sulfur, pyridine-activated alkyne, and amines

Authors：Zhang, Lihui; Hu, Yang; Hu, Rongrong^*; Tang, Ben Zhong^*

Source：Chemical Communications, 2022, 58(12): 1994-1997.

DOI：10.1039/d1cc06448g

• ELEMENTAL SULFUR
• DIAMINES

Through the design of a pyridine-activated diyne monomer, the catalyst-free multicomponent polymerizations of sulfur, aromatic alkyne, and a group of commercially available primary and secondary diamines were realized at room temperature or 40 degrees C, affording functional polythioamides with well-defined structures, high yields (up to 98%), high molecular weights (95 100 g mol(-1)), improved mercury removal performance, and interesting photophysical and photochemical properties. This work not only demonstrated an advance in efficient and economic synthesis of polythioamides, but also revealed the structure-property relationship of these promising sulfur-containing polymer materials.