Sulfur containing polymers. Aromatic polydithiocarbonates and polythiocarbonates: Synthesis and thermal properties

New polydithiocarbonates and polythiocarbonates were obtained by interfacial polymerization of bis(4-mercaptophenyl)methane, bis(4-mercaptophenyl)ether and bis(4-mercaptophenyl)sulfide with phosgene, bisphenol A bischloroformate and bisphenol A polycarbonate oligomers (-OH/-O-CO-Cl terminated). Polymerization process was carried out under interfacial conditions using a phase-transfer catalyst, as earlier described for the synthesis of polydithiocarbonates and polythiocarbonates from 2,2-bis(4-mercaptophenyl)propane. The structures of the polymers were examined by IR and NMR spectroscopies; their thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. In particular, the effect of the substitution of one or both the ethereal oxygen atoms of the carbonate group by sulfur has been analyzed by comparing the Tg values and the ability to crystallize of the sulfur containing polymers with those of the corresponding polycarbonates. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.