Supramolecular polysulfide polymers cross-linked by metal-ligand interactions

We report the first synthesis of a supramolecular cross-linked polysulfide polymer containing bipyridine (poly(LS-bpy)) using metal-ligand interactions. Complexing the bipyridine part in the poly(LS-bpy) and a metal ion realizes a supramolecular cross-linked polysulfide polymer. The molecular weight of the supramolecular cross-linked polysulfide polymer is 29 times higher than that of a polysulfide polymer obtained from conventional polymerization. In addition, the addition of chelating agents and a metal ion can control the disassembly and assembly of the supramolecular cross-linked polysulfide polymer, respectively. The supramolecular cross-linked polysulfide polymer remarkably improves the thermal stability, which should be useful for applications as a polysulfide polymer material. We report a new methodology to synthesize a polysulfide polymer via a supramolecular chemistry approach.