One-Pot Process of Preparing the Borate Thiol Crosslinker and Polyolefin Vitrimer Prepared with the Same

A one-pot process of preparing compound (1), wherein compound (1) contains at least two reversible borate moieties or derivative thereof and at least two mercapto groups (—SH), wherein the derivative of borate moiety represents a moiety with the oxygen in the borate moiety being replaced with other element of the sixth main group, for example sulfur, and there is a reversible borate moiety or derivative thereof between any two mercapto groups;

• wherein the process comprises reacting a B-containing compound (3) with a polyol-type compound (4) to obtain a reaction mixture (2), and reacting the reaction mixture (2) with a compound (5) containing a carboxyl and a mercapto group (—SH) to form compound (1),
• wherein the B-containing compound (3) is selected from a compound having a structure of B (QR);
• and a compound having at least two B(QR)2 groups, wherein R is selected from H or C1-C6-alkyl and each Q is independently an element of the sixth main group, or oxygen or sulfur;
• and
• wherein the polyol-type compound (4) has three hydroxyls and two of them are capable of forming the reversible borate moiety or derivative thereof with the B-containing compound (3), or the polyol-type compound (4) has one hydroxyl and one ethylene oxide ring or oxetane ring.