A novel synthesis of cyclic polythioethers using liquid-liquid phase-transfer catalysis

The synthesis of cyclic polythioethers has been achieved by the reactions of dithiols with alkyl dihalides. Thiols are not only hard to handle owing to their unpleasant smell, but also they are easily oxidizable, thus it is not easy to obtain various dithiols. However, we have developed a procedure for the preparation cyclic polythioethers by the reaction of dithiohninium salts with alkyl dihalides using phase-transfer catalyst without the use of dithiols, and have examined the ion recognition of these compounds.