The following invention regards a process of demethylating a methyl ester of methionine or its hydroxy analog and producing methane thiol as a side-product. The methionine and its hydroxy analog are suitable as an animal feed additive and as a food additive. The methane thiol may be consumed in a hydrothiolation step such as in a step of preparing the methyl ester of methionine or its hydroxy analog from methyl vinyl glycolate.

The following invention regards a process of demethylating a methyl ester of methionine or its hydroxy analog and producing methane thiol as a side-product. The methionine and its hydroxy analog are suitable as an animal feed additive and as a food additive. The methane thiol may be consumed in a hydrothiolation step such as in a step of preparing the methyl ester of methionine or its hydroxy analog from methyl vinyl glycolate.

Processes for making reactive surfactants are disclosed. In one such process, a fatty epoxide, a glycidyl ether, or a combination thereof is reacted with an olefin-functional nucleophile to produce an olefin-functional hydrophobe. The olefin-functional hydrophobe is reacted with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxides, or a combination thereof to produce an alkoxylate. Optionally, the alkoxylate is converted to the corresponding sulfate, phosphate, or maleate. Surfactant compositions comprising the reactive surfactants made by these processes are also described. The invention includes polymerizable mixtures comprising an acrylic monomer and the surfactant compositions as well as aqueous acrylic latex emulsions and coatings produced from the emulsions. The reactive surfactants deliver stable latex emulsions with reduced tendency for surfactant migration or excessive foaming. Coatings from the emulsions have improved wet adhesion, scrub resistance, and water resistance.

Processes for making reactive surfactants are disclosed. In one such process, a fatty epoxide, a glycidyl ether, or a combination thereof is reacted with an olefin-functional nucleophile to produce an olefin-functional hydrophobe. The olefin-functional hydrophobe is reacted with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxides, or a combination thereof to produce an alkoxylate. Optionally, the alkoxylate is converted to the corresponding sulfate, phosphate, or maleate. Surfactant compositions comprising the reactive surfactants made by these processes are also described. The invention includes polymerizable mixtures comprising an acrylic monomer and the surfactant compositions as well as aqueous acrylic latex emulsions and coatings produced from the emulsions. The reactive surfactants deliver stable latex emulsions with reduced tendency for surfactant migration or excessive foaming. Coatings from the emulsions have improved wet adhesion, scrub resistance, and water resistance.

A liquid 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted 1-alkene prepolymer is formed by reacting a multifunctional 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkene and a polythiol or monothiol at a ratio of thiols/carbon-carbon double bonds of 0.001 to 0.5 in the presence of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) to 100 ppm by weight of strong acid, polythiol/monothiol and 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkene. Further ingredients, such as other monomers, fillers, and rheological modifiers may be added to form polymerizable compositions. The prepolymer or polymerizable compositions may be addition polymerized to form polymer articles.

A liquid 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted 1-alkene prepolymer is formed by reacting a multifunctional 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkene and a polythiol or monothiol at a ratio of thiols/carbon-carbon double bonds of 0.001 to 0.5 in the presence of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) to 100 ppm by weight of strong acid, polythiol/monothiol and 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkene. Further ingredients, such as other monomers, fillers, and rheological modifiers may be added to form polymerizable compositions. The prepolymer or polymerizable compositions may be addition polymerized to form polymer articles.

A liquid 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted 1-alkene prepolymer is formed by reacting a multifunctional 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkene and a polythiol or monothiol at a ratio of thiols/carbon-carbon double bonds of 0.001 to 0.5 in the presence of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) to 100 ppm by weight of strong acid, polythiol/monothiol and 1,1-dicarbonyl substituted-1-alkene. Further ingredients, such as other monomers, fillers, and rheological modifiers may be added to form polymerizable compositions. The prepolymer or polymerizable compositions may be addition polymerized to form polymer articles.

A process produces a mono vinyl thioether by reacting acetylene with a compound containing one thiol group and one hydroxy group, referred to as a thiol-hydroxy compound, where the reaction is performed at a pressure below 2 bars.

A process produces a mono vinyl thioether by reacting acetylene with a compound containing one thiol group and one hydroxy group, referred to as a thiol-hydroxy compound, where the reaction is performed at a pressure below 2 bars.

An agent for initiating a radical addition reaction includes a persulfate and one or more transition metals, in elemental form or in an oxidized form, as well as a method for preparing a compound of formula (I)

##STR00001## in which X is selected from S, Se and O; by a radical addition reaction in the presence of such an agent.