4,4'-Thio-bis-(dialkylphenol)/formaldehyde condensates and process for producing them

A phenol/formaldehyde condensation product having a repeating unit of the formula ##STR5## wherein n is 3 to 12, R.sub.1 and R'.sub.1 are each independently selected from the group consisting of straight chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, branched chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 and R'.sub.2 are each independently hydrogen, straight chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, and branched chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms.

A phenol/formaldehyde condensation product having a repeating unit of the formula ##STR6## wherein n is 3 to 12, R.sub.1 and R'.sub.1 are each independently selected from the group consisting of straight chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, branched chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 and R'.sub.2 are each independently hydrogen, straight chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms or branched chained alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms.

A process for preparing a condensation product of 4,4'-thio-bis-(dialkylphenol) and formaldehyde which comprises contacting a 4,4'-thio-bis-(dialkylphenol) having a free hydrogen atom in the ortho position with respect to each phenolic hydroxyl group and a source of formaldehyde in the presence of a protonic acid catalyst, the mol ratio of said 4,4'-thio-bis-(dialkylphenol) to formaldehyde being 1:0.5 to 10 and the mol ratio of said 4,4'-thio-bis-(dialkylphenol) to said protonic acid being 1:0.01 to 10.

In a process for preparing a phenol/formaldehyde condensation process wherein a source of formaldehyde is condensed with a bisphenol in the presence of a protonic acid catalyst, the improvement which comprises employing as said bisphenol a compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1 and R'.sub.1 are independently branched chained alkyl groups having up to 8 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R'.sub.2 are hydrogen, straight chained alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms or branched chained alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, the mol ratio of said 4,4'-thio-bis-(dialkylphenol) to said formaldehyde being 1:0.5 to 10 and the mol ratio of said 4,4'-thio-bis-(dialkylphenol) to protonic acid being 1:0.01 to 10.