Synthesis of Refractive Star-Shaped Polysulfide by Anionic Polymerization of Phenoxy Propylene Sulfide Using an Initiating System Consisting of Trifunctional Thiol Derived from Five-Membered Cyclic Dithiocarbonate and Amine

Star-shaped poly(phenoxy propylene sulfide) [poly (PPS)I were synthesized by anionic polymerization using a trifunctional initiator (I-1) derived from a trifunctional five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonate and benzyl amine. Conditions for the anionic polymerization of PPS were optimized to obtain polymers with desired M(n)s and narrow M-w/M(n)s. The best catalyst and solvent were DBU and DMF, respectively. The star-shaped structure of the resulting star poly(PPS) was supported by SEC analysis. The refractive indexes (n(D)) of the star poly (PPS) were relatively high (> 1.64). (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 525-531, 2010