Stereoregular poly(2-phenylthiirane) via cationic ring-opening polymerization

Chem Commun (Camb). 2024 May 7;60(38):5034-5037. doi: 10.1039/d4cc01281j.

Abstract

Herein, we describe an effective strategy for synthesizing polythioethers with a well-defined structure through the cationic polymerization of thiirane with electron-withdrawing substituents. This strategy allows for precisely controlling the regio- and stereochemistry of the ring-opening polymerization of 2-phenylthiirane, thus allowing for producing poly(2-phenylthiirane) with high stereoregularity using enantiomeric pure thiirane.