The synthesis of a polythioester from adipic acid and 1,2- ethanedithiol

The purpose of this investigation was to synthesize a polythioester from adipic acid and 1,2-ethanedithiol. Due to the commercial unavailability of 1,2-ethanedithiol it was decided to synthesize 1 t from sodium hydrosulfide and ethylene chloride.

Sodium hydrosulfide was prepared by reacting hydrogen sulfide with sodium sulfide in alcohol. In the first test of sodium hydrosulfide were mixed with a stoichiometric amount of ethylene chloride and 200 milliliters of isopropyl alcohol, and for the second teet 45 grams of sodium hydrosulfide were mixed with a stoichiometrlc amount of ethylene chloride tn 200 milliliters of absolute alcohol. Each test was performed at atmospheric pressure in a three-necked, round bottomed, liter flask. The reaction mixture was refluxed for two hours.

The result of the experiment was that no 1,2-ethanedithiol was formed.