New synthesis of poly(phenylene sulfide)s through O₂ oxidative polymerization of diphenyl disulfide with VO catalyst

This communication describes a novel and convenient synthetic route to poly(phenylene sulfide)s (Scheme I). Diphenyl disulfide is polymerized to PPS with high purity in high yield, in the presence of a catalytic amount of vanadyl acetylacetonate (VO(acac)₂) under an air atmosphere at room temperature. It is shown that oxygen is essential for the polymerization of diphenyl disulfide. In the presence of VO(acac)₂, the polymerization is accompanied with a quantitative oxygen uptake. More oxygen uptake was observed whenever additional diphenyl disulfide was added to the reaction mixture.