METHOD FOR PREPARING POLYTHIOLS

Abstract

Provided is a process for preparing polythiols by preparing a sulfhydration reaction medium, simultaneously carrying out radical sulfhydration reaction of at least one polyene and acid-catalyzed sulfhydration reaction of the polyene and recovering a mixture including at least two polythiols. Also provided is a mixture of polythiols obtained from the process described herein.

Claims

1. A process for preparing polythiols comprising: a/ preparing a sulfhydration reaction medium comprising bringing into contact: at least one polyene; at least one radical initiator; at least one acid catalyst; at least one sulfhydryl group donor compound; optionally, at least one solvent; b/ simultaneously carrying out the radical sulfhydration reaction of said at least one polyene and the acid-catalyzed sulfhydration reaction of said at least one polyene; and c/ recovering a mixture comprising at least two polythiols.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said at least one polyene is a compound with a hydrocarbon chain that comprises at least two unsaturations in double bond form, it being possible for said chain to be linear or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, and to optionally comprise one or more heteroatoms chosen from columns 15, 16 and 17 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and to be interrupted or substituted by one or more aromatic groups.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein said at least one polyene is a hydrocarbon compound comprising from 2 to 20 double bonds, limits included.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein said at least one polyene is chosen from triallylisocyanurate and derivatives thereof, terpenes and derivatives thereof, comprising at least two double bonds.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein said at least one radical initiator is chosen from a thermal or photochemical initiator and a radical-generating organic or mineral compound, taken alone or as a combination of two or more thereof.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein said at least one radical initiator is chosen from peroxides, hydroperoxides, azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one, alkyl phosphites and xanthene derivatives, taken alone or as a combination of two or more thereof.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein said at least one acid catalyst is chosen from Lewis acids, sulfonated acid resins and catalytic compositions comprising at least one metal salt, taken alone or as a combination of two or more thereof.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sulfhydryl group donor compound is chosen from hydrogen sulfide, thiocarboxylic acids and precursors thereof, taken alone or as a combination of two or more thereof.

9. The process according to claim 1, carried out in the absence of solvent.

10. A mixture of at least two polythiols obtained according to the process as claimed in claim 1.

11. The use of the mixture according to claim 10, as crosslinking or vulcanizing agent, reagent for the preparation of sulfur-containing compounds such as thiourethanes, polysulfides and the like, chain transfer agent, metal complexing agent, ore flotation agent, antioxidant, heat stabilizer.

Description

EXAMPLE

[0077] One embodiment of the process of the invention is illustrated by this example in which a photoinitiator and a radiation source are used in a photochemical reactor, said photochemical reactor comprising a recirculation loop on which a tubular reactor is installed. Filters positioned upstream and downstream of the tubular reactor prevent entrainment of the heterogeneous catalyst.

[0078] The reactor also has a heating system for heating to the desired temperature. A cooling system located after the tubular reactor on the recirculation loop makes it possible to cool or heat the liquid feed of the photochemical reactor. A pump placed on this recirculation loop makes it possible to vary the liquid flowrate.

[0079] 100 g (0.73 mol) of -myrcene (from DRT) dissolved in 1000 g of tetrahydrofuran (Aldrich) and 0.25 g of Irgacure 651 (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) are introduced. 5 g of dry Amberlyst 15 cation exchange resin (Aldrich) are introduced into the tubular reactor.

[0080] Under recirculation (20 l.Math.h.sup.1), the reaction medium is then subjected to nitrogen bubbling in order to remove traces of residual oxygen. Added next to the reaction medium are 30 molar equivalents of hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S). The tubular reactor is then brought to the desired temperature (100 C.). Once this temperature is reached, the lamp is then lit. The reaction medium is subjected to UV radiation (wavelength: 355-365 nm, power: 8 watts), for 6 hours at a temperature of 100 C., and a constant pressure of 1.5 MPa, adjusted by the addition of hydrogen sulfide.

[0081] The conversion is monitored by analyzing the samples by high-performance (or high-pressure) liquid chromatography.

[0082] After 6 hours the conversion of the starting polyene reached 100%. The lamp is switched off and the heating of the tubular reactor is stopped. The excess hydrogen sulfide is then purged to a thermal oxidizer by decompression of the medium, and then by stripping with nitrogen. The mixture is then evaporated under vacuum in order to remove the solvent and then distilled in order to remove the possible impurities, for example of the sulfide type.

[0083] The distilled mixture thus obtained has a purity of greater than 98% expressed by weight of trithiols formed. This distilled mixture is characterized by NMR and is found to be composed of polythiols of the following chemical structures:

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