Latent curing agent and epoxy compositions containing the same

A latent curing agent obtained by the reaction of a coumarin compound of the general formula (1)

• wherein X and Y can be independently H, an alkyl group, a heteroalkyl group, an aromatic group, a heteroaromatic group or an acetyl group, and Z can be H, OH, an alkyl group, a heteroalkyl group, an aromatic group, a heteroaromatic group, with an amine of the general formula (2)
• (H2N-A)a-B (2)
• wherein “a” is 1 or 2,
• A can be an alkylene group, a heteroalkylene group, an aromatic group, a heteroaromatic group,
• and B can be an alkyl group (if a=1), an alkylene group (if a=2), a heteroalkyl group (if a=1), a heteroalkylene group (if a=2), an aromatic group, a heteroaromatic group, a hydroxyl group (if a=1), a secondary amino group (if a=2), O or S (if a=2), whereby B has the valency “a”,
• or wherein B alone or where A and B together form a ring system selected from an aliphatic ring system, a heteroaliphatic ring system, or an aromatic ring system.