Compounds include polythioaminals of the formula: Each instance of R may be hydrogen or an electron withdrawing group. ‘n’ may be an integer such that the number average molecular weight (Mn) or weight average molecular weight (Mw) is between about 2,000 to about 80,000. Compounds also include polythioaminals of the formula: Each instance of R may be independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —F, —CF3, and —NO2. Each instance of R′ may be independently selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyl, alkyl, alkylene glycol, acrylate, and siloxane. ‘n’ may be an integer such that the number average molecular weight (Mn) or weight average molecular weight (Mw) is between about 2,000 to about 80,000.