Process for the preparation of polymers containing mercapto groupings

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SUBSTANTIALLY LINEAR POLYMERS CONTAINING A PREDETERMINED AND CONTROLLABLE NUMBER OF PENDANT VICINAL MERCAPTO GROUPS WHICH COMPRISES REACTING IN A SOLVENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BENZENE, ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED BENZENE, HALOGENSUBSTITUTED BENZENE, AND A-HALOGEN-SUBSTITUTED BENZENE, IN WHICH THE ALKYL GROUP CONTAINS 1 TO 4 CARBON ATOMS AND THE HALOGEN IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CHLORINE AND BROMINE, AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 60*C. TO ABOUT 150*C., IN A NONOXIDIZING SUBSTANTIALLY MOISTURE-FREE ATMOSPHERE (1) A COPOLYMER OF (A) AN EPOXIDE GROUP-CONTAINING MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF GLYCIDYL ACRYLATE, GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE, 4,5-EPOXPENTYL METHACRYLATE AND 2-(VINLYTHIO) ETHYL GLYCIDYL ETHER AND MIXTURES OF THESE MONOMERS WITH (B) A MONOMER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF METHYL ACRYLATE, ETHYL ACRYLATE, METHYL METHACRYLATE, ETHYL METHACRYLATE, ETHYL ETHACRYLATE, STYRENE, METHYLSTYRENE, VINYLTOLUENE, VINYLNAPHTHALENE, AND MIXTURES THEREOF AND (2) AT LEAST TWO EQUIVALENTS BASED ON THE EPOXIDE CONTENT OF THE COPOLYMER OF THIOCARBOXYLIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THIOGLYCOLLIC ACID, MERCAPTOPROPIONIC ACID, THE MONOMETHYL ESTER OF THIOMALIC ACID AND P-MERCAPTOBENZOIC ACID, AND ISOLATING THE POLYMER SO FORMED.