University Chemistry ›› 2025, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (4): 87-93.doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202405143

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Exploration of Thiol-Ene Click Polymerization in Polymer Chemistry Experiment Teaching

Lilong Gao, Yuhao Zhai, Dongdong Zhang, Linjun Huang, Kunyan Sui   

  1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2024-05-20 Accepted:2024-08-14 Published:2025-04-25
  • Contact: Lilong Gao E-mail:gaolilong@qdu.edu.cn

Abstract: The addition reaction between thiols and vinyl ethers is an anti-Markovnikov addition reaction based on a free radical mechanism, which proceeds efficiently under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the presence of photoinitiator or photosensitizer. In this experiment, triethylene glycol divinyl ether (TEGDVE) and 3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanedithiol (DODT) were selected as monomers to synthesize poly(ether-thioether) polymers through thiol-ene click stepwise polymerization. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to determine the molecular structure of the polymers, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was employed to measure the molecular weight of the obtained polymers. Strategies to achieve high-molecular-weight polyaddition products were explored by adjusting the molar ratio of monomers and polymerization time. The mechanism of the polymerization reaction was further verified by introducing radical scavengers. This experiment serves as a simple, efficient, green, and environmentally friendly comprehensive polymer chemistry experiment.

Key words: Thiol-ene click reaction, Dithiol and divinyl ether, Stepwise polymerization, Molecular weight control method, Gel permeation chromatography