NEW SYNTHESIS OF LIQUID POLYSULFIDE POLYMERS IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDRAZINE .1. SYNTHESIS OF LINEAR POLYSULFIDE POLYMERS FROM 1,1'-[METHYLENEBIS(OXY)]-BIS-[2-CHLOROETHANE] AND SODIUM TETRASULFIDE

The results of our studies show that liquid linear polysulfide polymer s of an average molecular weight 4260-1030 g mol-l can be obtained by the reaction of sodium tetrasulfide and 1,1'-[methylenebis(oxy)]-bis-[ 2-chloroethane] in the presence of 2.0-5.0 mol of hydrazine and at lea st 4.0 mol of sodium hydroxide/mol of hydrazine in a one-step procedur e. The disulfide polymers in the form of sodium mercaptide are soluble in the supernatant liquid from which they are separated by acidificat ion of the solution to a pH value of about 4. The average molecular we ight and the content of sulfur in the obtained linear polymers were de termined and their IR spectra were recorded. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Son s, Inc.