The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of polymeric sulfur. The method includes reacting a metallasulfur derivative with an oxidizing agent to form polymeric sulfur.

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of cyclododecasulfur, a cyclic sulfur allotrope wherein the number of sulfur (S) atoms in the allotrope's homocyclic ring is 12. The method includes reacting a metallasulfur derivative with an oxidizing agent in a reaction zone to form a cyclododecasulfur-containing reaction mixture.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thiol compound represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 is CH.sub.2SCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SH, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mixture of the thiol compound and 4-mercaptomethyl-1,8-dimercapto-3,6-dithiaoctane, wherein the ratio of the thiol compound is 0.001 to 5.0% by mass.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thiol compound represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sub.1 is CH.sub.2SCH.sub.2CH.sub.2SH, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mixture of the thiol compound and 4-mercaptomethyl-1,8-dimercapto-3,6-dithiaoctane, wherein the ratio of the thiol compound is 0.001 to 5.0% by mass.

A monomer design strategy based on a bridged bicyclic thiolactone that produces stereo-disordered to perfectly stereo-ordered polythioesters is disclosed. The described polythioesters exhibit high crystallinity and full chemical recyclability. Such polymers possess intrinsic tacticity-independent crystallinity and chemical recyclability, tunable tacticities from stereo-disorder to perfect stereoregularity, as well as combined high-performance properties such as high thermal stability and crystallinity, and high mechanical strength, ductility and toughness.

A monomer design strategy based on a bridged bicyclic thiolactone that produces stereo-disordered to perfectly stereo-ordered polythioesters is disclosed. The described polythioesters exhibit high crystallinity and full chemical recyclability. Such polymers possess intrinsic tacticity-independent crystallinity and chemical recyclability, tunable tacticities from stereo-disorder to perfect stereoregularity, as well as combined high-performance properties such as high thermal stability and crystallinity, and high mechanical strength, ductility and toughness.

A compound represented by Formula (1) or (3). ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom; a C1-6 alkyl group optionally having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of a carboxy group and OR.sup.5; a C2-6 alkyl group having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of NR.sup.6R.sup.7 and N.sup.+R.sup.9R.sup.10R.sup.11; or (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nR.sup.8; ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.4 is a C1-6 alkyl group having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of a carboxy group and OR.sup.5; a C2-6 alkyl group having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of NR.sup.6R.sup.7 and N.sup.+R.sup.9R.sup.10R.sup.11, or (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nR.sup.8;
wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a C1-3 alkyl group; and n is an integer of 2 to 5.

A compound represented by Formula (1) or (3). ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom; a C1-6 alkyl group optionally having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of a carboxy group and OR.sup.5; a C2-6 alkyl group having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of NR.sup.6R.sup.7 and N.sup.+R.sup.9R.sup.10R.sup.11; or (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nR.sup.8; ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.4 is a C1-6 alkyl group having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of a carboxy group and OR.sup.5; a C2-6 alkyl group having one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of NR.sup.6R.sup.7 and N.sup.+R.sup.9R.sup.10R.sup.11, or (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nR.sup.8;
wherein R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a C1-3 alkyl group; and n is an integer of 2 to 5.