Synthesis of Novel Hexathiolated Squalene and Its Thiol-Ene Photopolymerization with Unsaturated Monomers

Abstract

In this work is described the synthesis of a multifunctional thiolated squalene. Thiol-ene coupling reactions were employed to functionalize the six double bonds of squalene, using thiolacetic acid. Hydrolysis of the resulting thioacetates, rendered the corresponding hexathiolated squalene SQ6SH. This compound was further photopolymerized separately with triallyl cyanurate, pentaerythritol triacrylate and diethyleneglycol divinyl ether. Real Time FTIR kinetics revealed that homopolymerization of the ene monomers took place in addition to the thiol-ene photopolymerization. Flexible films were obtained when SQ6SH was photopolymerized in bulk with the above mentioned unsaturated monomers.