The polymerization of xylylene bisdialkyl sulfonium salts

Paraxylylene bisdialkyl sulfonium salts can be polymerized in several different ways, yielding addition polymers as well as condensation polymers. The chemistry leads to a variety of polymers including poly(p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylidene), poly(xylylene sulfide)s, poly(xylylene oxide)s, and various α-substituted polyxylylenes such as poly(p-xylylene-α-dialkylsulfonium chloride). Addition polymers form via xylylene diradical intermediates. Condensation polymerization can be effected either by coupling with aldehydes or by nucleophilic displacement reactions.