Synthesis of dithioester chain transfer agents and use of bis(thioacyl) disulfides or dithioesters as chain transfer agents

摘要

This invention relates to the synthesis of dithiocarboxylic acid esters by reaction of bis(thioacyl) disulphides, thioacetals or vinylidane bis(thioether) with free-radicals (optionally in the presence of monomers). The invention also relates to processes for the synthesis of polymers utilising these dithioesters as polymerisation regulators (chain transfer agents) or to the use of bis(thioacyl) disulphides to generate dithioester chain transfer agents in situ.