Method of making sulfur-containing polymers from hexahydrotriazine and dithiol precursors

Abstract

Polythioaminal polymers are made from hexahydrotriazine precursors and dithiol precursors. The precursors are blended together and subjected to mild heating to make the polymers. The polymers have the general structure wherein each Ris independently an organic or hetero-organic group, each Ris independently a substituent having molecular weight no more than about 120 Daltons, X and Z are each a sulfur-bonded species, at least one of X and Z is not hydrogen, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. X and Z may be hydrogen or a functional group, such as a thiol-reactive group. The reactive thiol groups of the polythioaminal may be used to attach thiol-reactive end capping species. By using water soluble or water degradable dithiols, such as polyether dithiols, water soluble polythioaminals may be made. Some such polymers may be used to deliver therapeutics with non-toxic aqueous degradation products.