Synthesis of Symmetrical, Substituted (alkane-α,ω,-diyl)(bis[3,3'-allyl dithioethers]) Monomers for Photoplastic Polymer Networks

Novel symmetrical (alkane-α,ω-diyl)(bis[3,3'-allyl dithioethers]) compounds and their ether analogues, have been synthesised from (alkane-α,ω-diyl)bis([2-{chloromethyl}allyl]sulfane) precursors, for use in crosslinked polymers which exhibit photoplastic behaviour. Facile synthesis and purification of these monomers was achieved if the alkane-α,ω-diyl moiety had at least one oxygen atom in this linker. The number of sulfur atoms in these monomers was varied from four to two to zero to produce monomers which can be used to evaluate their importance on the photoplasticity behaviour.