Novel synthesis of macrocyclic aromatic disulfide oligomers by cyclodepolymerization of aromatic disulfide polymers

The synthesis of macrocyclic aromatic disulphide oligomer from 4,4′-oxybis(benzene thiol) by cyclodepolymerization (CDP) of aromatic disulphide polymers was analyzed. The disulphide polymer was depolymerized in N,N′-dimethylacetamide at 100°C in presence of catalytic amount of potassium carbonate and 4,4′-oxybis(benzenethiol) with stirring. The melting points of oligomers were detected by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), which demonstrated formation of cyclic oligomers. The results show that melt ring-opening polymerizations of macrocyclic oligomers obtained by CDP and oxidative coupling were performed 180 ∓ 5 °C for 30 min in N 2 protective atmosphere.