Polyfluoride sulfonium compounds and polymerization initiator thereof

Claim 2

A sulfonium compound represented by the following general formula (I): where R₁ represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a methyl group, an acetyl group and a methoxycarbonyl group; R₂ and R₃ each represent, a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group and an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R₄ represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group, a methyl group and a methoxy group; R₅ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and X⁻ represents an anion selected from the group consisting of SbF₆, PF₆, AsF₆ and BF₄.

Claim 3

The sulfonium compound of claim 1 wherein the sulfonium compound is benzyl-4-hydroxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 4

The sulfonium compound of claim 1 wherein the sulfonium compound is benzyl-4-hydroxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate.

Claim 5

The sulfonium compound of claim 1 wherein the sulfonium compound is benzyl-4-methoxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 6

The sulfonium compound of claim 1 wherein the sulfonium compound is 4-acetoxyphenylbenzylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 7

The sulfonium compound of claim 1 wherein the sulfonium compound is 4-acetoxyphenylbenzylmethylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate.

Claim 8

The sulfonium compound of claim 1 wherein the sulfonium compound is benzyl-4-­methoxycarbonyloxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 9

A process for producing a sulfonium compound defined in claim 1, wherein the sulfonium compound represented by the general formula (I) is produced by reacting a sulfonium compound represented by the following general formula (II) with a member selected from the group consisting of MSbF₆, MPF₆, MAsF₆ or MBF₄ in which M represents an alkali metal salt, by using, as a reaction solvent one or more of hydrous or anhydrous solvents selected from the group consisting of methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, ethanol and acetonitrile, where R₁ represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a methyl group, an acetyl group, and a methoxycarbonyl group; R₂ and R₃ each represent a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R₄ represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group, a methyl group and a methoxy group; R₅ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and Y⁻ represents an anion member selected from the group consisting of chlorine, and methyl sulfate.

Claim 10

A process for producing a sulfonium compound represented by the general formula (IV), wherein a sulfonium compound represented by the following general formula (III) and a halide represented by R₁-Z are reacted under the presence of a base in acetonitrile and/or acetic acid ester; where R₂ and R₃ each represent a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group and an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R₄ represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group, a methyl group and a methoxy group; R₅ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; X⁻ represents a member selected from the group consisting of SbF₆, PF₆, AsF₆ and BF₄; and Z represents a halogen group: where R₁ represents a member selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an acetyl group and a methoxycarbonyl group; and R₂-R₅ and X⁻ have the same meanings as those in the general formula (III).

Claim 11

A process for producing a sulfonium compound represented by the general formula (IV), wherein a sulfonium compound represented by the following general formula (III) and a halide represented by R₁-Z are reacted under the presence of a base in acetonitrile and/or acetic acid ester; where R₂ and R₃ each represent a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group and an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R₄ represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen group, a methyl group and a methoxy group; R₅ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; X⁻ represents a member selected from the group consisting of SbF₆, PF₆, AsF₆ and BF₄; and Z represents a halogen group: where R₁ represents a member selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an acetyl group and a methoxycarbonyl group; and R₂-R₅ and X⁻ have the same meanings as those in the general formula (III).

Claim 12

A process for producing a sulfonium compound as defined in claim 9, wherein the base is selected from a member selected from the group consisting of triethylamine, trimethylamine, dicyclohexylamine and N-methylmorpholine.

Claim 13

A polymerizable composition containing one or more of cationically polymerizable material and the benzyl sulfonium salt represented by the general formula (I) as defined in claim 1.

Claim 14

A polymerizable composition as defined in claim 11, wherein the cationically polymerizable material is a compound having an epoxy group.

Claim 15

A polymerizable composition as defined in claim 11, wherein the cationically polymerizable material is a cationically polymerizable vinyl compound.

Claim 16

A polymerizable composition as defined in claim 11, wherein from about 0.01 to about 20 parts by weight of a benzyl sulfonium salt represented by the general formula (I) as defined in claim 1 is added to 100 parts by weight of the cationically polymerizable material.

Claim 17

A polymerization initiator for cationically polymerizable material comprising, as the main component, a benzyl sulfonium salt represented by the general formula (I) as defined in claim 1.

Claim 18

A polymerization initiator as defined in claim 15, wherein the benzyl sulfonium salt is benzyl-4-­hydroxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 19

A polymerization initiator as defined in claim 15, wherein the benzyl sulfonium salt is benzyl-4-­hydroxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate.

Claim 20

A polymerization initiator as defined in claim 15, wherein the benzyl sulfonium salt is benzyl-4-­methoxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 21

A polymerization initiator as defined in claim 15, wherein the benzyl sulfonium salt is 4-­acetoxyphenylbenzylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 22

A polymerization initiator as defined in claim 15, wherein the benzyl sulfonium salt is 4-­acetoxyphenylbenzylmethylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate.

Claim 23

A polymerization initiator as defined in claim 15, wherein the benzyl sulfonium salt is benzyl-4-­methoxycarbonyloxyphenylmethylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate.

Claim 24

A process of polymerizing cationically polymerizable material, wherein one or more of benzyl sulfonium salts represented by the general formula (I) as defined in claim 1 is added, as a polymerization initiator, to one or more of cationically polymerizable material and wherein the polymerization reaction is started by radiation rays, by heat and combinations thereof.

Claim 25

The polymerization process of claim 22, wherein the radiation rays are ultraviolet rays.

Claim 26

The polymerization process of claim 22, wherein the polymerization is conducted at a temperature of 20°C or higher and the polymerizable material is a vinyl compound.

Claim 27

The polymerization process of claim 22, wherein from about 0.01 to about 20 parts by weight of the benzyl­sulfonium salt represented by the general formula (I) as defined in claim 1 is added to 100 parts by weight of the cationically polymerizable material.