Polythioacetals: From old chemistry to new perspectives

In this review, we comprehensively described the synthetic approaches for the preparation of polythioacetals (PTAs) by step-growth, chain-growth, and post-polymerization modification techniques from the past to the present. In addition, we reviewed the state-of-the-art applications of PTAs as reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive polymers, chemosensors for Hg²⁺ ions, and polymers with dynamic covalent bond properties. Since a wide range of reactive oxygen species (ROS) applications of PTAs for cell delivery is beyond the scope of this review, some pioneering works are discussed, and the remaining items are only cited in the text. However, the utilization of PTAs as chemosensors for Hg²⁺ ions and the dynamic covalent bond properties of PTAs are extensively reviewed here. Also, as less common implementations of PTAs, the proton shelter and the polymeric bone cement examples are described in the text. The practical synthesizability of PTA and its wide range of applications in materials science and bio-based applications indicate that this fundamental reaction will proceed to be used continuously in various disciplines of chemistry in the future.