Polythiols and Polymercaptans

These polymers form from reactions of di thiols with aldehydes or ketones  

7 Step-Growth Polymerization and Step-Growth Polymers 

This reaction is used commercially to prepare an aromatic polymercaptan from p-bis (mecaptomethyl)benzene  

Another polymercaptan, poly(phenylene sulfide), can be prepared by several routes. This polymer forms from sodium p-bromothiophenol at 250-305°C [109]. It has good thermal resistance and melts 

It also forms by a reaction of dichlorobenzene with sodium sulfide [110]. To date, the exact mechanism of this polymerization, which is carried out commercially in A-methylpyrrolidone solution, has not been fully established. Recent evidence indicates that in this solvent, an ionic, step growth SNAr mechanism predominates [110]  

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