| Abstract: | Willgerodt–Kindler type reactions of dialdehydes and diamines in the presence of sulfur were investigated for preparation of polythioamides. The one‐pot, three‐component polycondensation afforded various polythioamides in moderate to good yields. The appropriate reaction conditions were examined for the separate monomers. The results led us to the proposed mechanism for the polycondensation including formation of the intermediate Schiff base polymers followed by the successive nucleophilic attack of polysulfide anions to the azomethine units to give the thioamide groups. Structure, solubility, and thermal properties of the polythioamides were also compared with those of analogous polyamides. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3739–3750, 2001 |
