Sulfur-containing polymers by the reaction of diphenyl sulfide with sulfur chlorides

The electrophilic reaction of sulfur dichloride with diphenyl sulfide proceeds efficiently at room temperature to yield oligo(phenylene sulfide) in the presence of a catalytic amount of Fe powder. Sulfur dichloride shows higher reactivity than sulfur monochloride. The reaction is promoted through the activation of sulfur dichloride by Fe powder. The polymeric product contains a linear structure linked by disulfide and sulfide bonds.