HSAB principle and desulphuration reaction during ionic coordination polymerization of thiiranes [1]

Desulphuration of trimethylthiirane (TMT), catalyzed by anionic and cationic catalysts for thiirane polymerization, has been studied. The possibility of obtaining polymers having mono-, di- and trisulphide bonds during TMT polymerization by typical cationic catalysts has been shown. Some peculiarities of the desulphuration reaction during the polymerization of thiiranes by ionic catalysts have been found. Differences in their catalytic action, shown by the formation of different quantities of both disulphide SSbonds in polymer chain and alkene, are discussed from the point of view of HSAB principle and symbiotic effect of ligands at the counterion. It is shown that desulphuration reactions during the cationic and anionic polymerization of thiiranes have a similar electronic nature, consisting of increase of coordinative state and the activation of the acceptor orbital of the thiirane sulphur atom. The nucleophilic attack by thiirane (during cationic polymerization) or growing thiolate-ion (during anionic polymerization) on the electrophilic sulphur atom of thiiranium intermediates

respectively, is accompanied by concerted fragmentation of these intermediates, giving the alkene and disulphide fragment. Possible mechanisms have been suggested for thiirane desulphuration and SSbond formation in products of the ionic polymerization of thiiranes. HSAB principle proved to be very useful for discussion of experimental results and other aspects of thiirane polymerization.