PROCESS FOR PREPARING TRIOXEPANE COMPOSITION AND USE THEREOF IN CROSSLINKING POLYMERS

摘要

Process to prepare a trioxepane compound of the following formula (I) comprising less than 3.5 wt% of dialkyl peroxide based on the total amount of peroxides, said process comprising the steps of reacting a glycol compound of the formula R³CHOH-CH₂-C(CH₃)₂OH with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid to form a glycol hydroperoxide, purifying the glycol hydroperoxide, reacting the purified glycol hydroperoxide with a ketone or aldehyde of the formula R¹R²CO in the presence of an acid to form the trioxepane compound, and purifying the trioxepane compound, wherein R¹, R², and R³ are independently selected from hydrogen and a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, with the proviso that if R¹ and R² are both methyl groups, R³ is not hydrogen. Initiator compositions comprising the so-prepared trioxepane compound are characterised by a high safe processing temperature in combination with a good crosslink efficiency.