Polyimidothioethers

Abstract The condensation of maleimide compounds with hydrogen sulfide and bisthiols was studied in several model systems. Bismaleimide compounds undergo rapid, exothermic polymerization with thiol‐containing compounds in dipolar and basic solvents to give crosslinked polymidothioethers. Effective supression of the crosslinking reaction was achieved by carrying out the polymerization in the presence of a proton donor to inhibit anionic polymerization. A number of linear polyimidothioether homopolymers and copolymers were prepared and a study was made of their properties.