Syntheses and refractive-indices properties of novel octa-arms star-shaped polysulfides radiating from p-t-butylcalix[81arene core

Octa-arms star-shaped polysulfides poly(PPS(n)-BCA[8](core)) (n = 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70) with high refractive-index were synthesized by the radiating from p-t-butylcalix[8]arene derivative as a core. The continuous insertion reaction of 3-phenoxypropyrenesulfide (PPS) into thioester moieties of BCA[8]-core was perfomerd in the presence of TBAC as a catalyst to afford the star-shaped polymers poly(PPS(n)-BCA[8](core)) quantitatively. The arm-lengths of poly(PPS(n)-BCA[8](core)) were controlled by the feed ratios of [PPS]/[(BCA[8]-core) x 8]. The refractive-indices values (n(D)s) of poly(PPS(n)-BCA[8](core)) increased with their sulfur contents. Furthermore. we examined the n(D)s of the linear polymers poly(PPS(n)-Bphe) which skeletons are almost the same as the star-shaped polymers poly(PPS(n)-BCA[8](core)). It was found that n(D)s of star-shaped polymer were higher than those of linear ones due to their compact structures and high segment densities.