Synthesis of network polymers from multifunctional aromatic thiol compounds

Network polymers have been synthesized by means of catalyst free thiol-yne reaction of multi-functional aromatic ethynyle and thiol compounds, 1,3,5-triethynylbenzenen (TEB), 1,4-diethynylbenzene (DEB), 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT) and benzenethiol (BT). The network polymers of TEB/DEB-BDT or TEB-BDT/BT were obtained in good yields. The feed ratio of DEB or BT increased the chloroform solution, fragments, of the network polymers. The fragments of the network polymers showed optical properties derived from conjugation units of phenyl-ethynyl-sulfide. The network polymers have been synthesized by oxidation reaction of multi-functional aromatic thiol compounds, 1,3,5-benzene trithiol (BTT) with BDT or 4,4’-biphenyl dithiol (BPDT), accompanied by formation of disulfide bonds. The BTT network was degradable by a reductant, tris(2-caboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride.