Synthesis of polythiol polymer intermediates from polyunsaturated hydrocarbons

A polythiol composition having the general formula:

• R.sub.2 --(R.sub.3) .sub.f Ch.sub.2 CH.sub.2 (SR.sub.1).sub.b SH).sub.m wherein R.sub.1 is a radical selected from the group consisting of (1) a C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 divalent alkylene radical, (2) a C.sub.2 -C.sub.30 divalent unsaturated alkylene radical, (3) a C.sub.8 -C.sub.30 bis-alkylene substituted aromatic radical, (4) a C.sub.6 -C.sub.30 divalent aromatic radical, and (5) a C.sub.2 -C.sub.30 divalent organic radical containing either sulfur, oxygen or silicon in addition to carbon and hydrogen atoms, R.sub.2 is a polyvalent radical selected from the group consisting of trimethylcarbinol, trimethylphosphate, trimethylol propane triformiate, triformoyl triazine, chlorosilane, silane, and cyclohexane radicals, R.sub.3 is a divalent hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, b ranges from 0 to 30, f is 0 or 1, and m is 3.

A polythiol composition having the general formula:

• R--(R').sub.x CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SH).sub.3 wherein R is a polyvalent radical selected from the group consisting of trimethylcarbinol, trimethylphosphate, trimethylol propane triformiate, triformoyl triazine, chlorosilane, silane, and cyclohexane radicals, R' is a divalent alkylene radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and x varies from 0 to 1.

A tetrathiol composition having the general formula (HSCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 (R').sub.x).sub.2 R--(R').sub.x CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 (R').sub.x --R-- ((R').sub.x CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SH).sub.2 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of trimethylcarbinol, trimethylphosphate, trimethylol propane triformiate, triformoyl triazine, chlorosilane, silane, and cyclohexane radicals, R' is a divalent alkylene radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and x varies from 0 to 1.