PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC POLYSULPHIDES AND CATALYST SYSTEM FOR ITS USE

摘要

A prodn. of organic polysulphides of the type R-Sn-R (I) is by heating one or more mercaptans with sulphur in the presence of a catalyst. In (I), R is hydrocarbon and n is 2-8. The catalyst is obtd. by condensing 1 molar equiv. of a mercaptan with 1-20 molar equivs. of alkylene oxide in the presence of 0.01 molar equivs. of an alkaline base. Pref. the catalyst is of formula R-S(CmH(2m)O)xH. (MOH)y, where R is a hydrocarbon (more pref. branched C1-20 alkyl); m is 2, 3 or 4; x is 1-20 (more pref. 4-12); M is an alkali metal; y is 0.01-1 (more pref. 0.1-0.5). Pref. the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide.