Poly(phenylene sulfide): Synthesis from 1,4‐dibromobenzene and sodium sulfide

Abstract A new route to synthesize poly(p‐phenylene sulfide) by nucleophilic substitution of 1,4‐dibromobenzene with sodium sulfide in N‐methylpyrrolidone is described. Kinetic evaluation shows the reaction to be of second order with two distinctive rate constant regimes. The first rate constant is higher and is operative until 50% conversion, whereas in the second regime (between 50 and 92% conversion) the rate is slower. The kinetics of this route is compared under identical conditions with the conventional synthesis based on 1,4‐dichloro benzene and sodium sulfide.