Abstract
New polythioesters by interfacial polycondensation of 1,4‐di(mercaptomethyl)‐tetramethylbenzene with phthaloyl, isophthaloyl, and terephthaloyl chlorides were obtained. To determine the optimal conditions of interfacial polycondensation the influence of the following factors on yield and value of reduced viscosity were studied: type of organic phase, the quantitative ratio of aqueous to organic phase, concentration of hydrogen chloride acceptor, molar ratio of reagents, rate of acid chloride addition, contribution of benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a catalyst, and the temperature of the reaction. The yield of all reaction products and the reduced viscosity of polythioesters which were soluble in the mixture of phenol‐tetrachloroethane were found. A thorough examination was carried out only for the polycondensation of dithiol with isophthaloyl chloride. The structure of all polythioesters obtained under the model conditions was determined by elementary analysis and infrared spectra. Initial decomposition temperature and maximum rate of decomposition temperature were defined from the curves of thermogravimetric analysis. Some mechanical and electrical properties of the polythioesters were determined. The molecular weight was not measured because of the low solubility of the obtained polythioesters.