Poly(Ester-Sulfide)S from Oligo(Oxyethylene)Dithiols and Bis(Acrylates)

Abstract

Poly(β-thioesters) were synthesized by Michael-type base-catalyzed polyaddition of oligo(ethylene glycol) α, ω-dithiols to bis(acrylic esters). Fine tuning of the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of the polymers can be achieved by modulating the length of the oligo(ethylene glycol) segment and the nature of the spacer between the two ester groups in the bis(acrylate) moiety. Investigation of the reactivity of oligo(ethylene glycol)dithiols with acrylic systems is reported, with the aim of determining the best conditions for a polyaddition process involving the base catalyzed addition of such dithiols to bis(acrylate) systems. Some hypotheses are proposed for the role of the solvent and of the catalyst. The influence of the molecular structure of the reactants on reactivity and on the properties of the resulting polymers is also discussed.