Preparation of triazinyl nitriles

A process for the preparation of novel radical initiators comprising

• (a) contacting a solution of (i) a compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein (1) m, n, p, and q independently are 0 or 1, provided if m=0, then n=0;
• and if p=0, then q=0;
• (2) the groups Y, B and C, X, A and D, or both are capable of forming a hetrocyclic ring having 2 to 5 carbon atoms;
• (3) X, Y, C, and D are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, the substituted alkyl groups being substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkylthio, carboxylester, cyano, hydroxyl, --NH.sub.2, --COOH, and --SO.sub.3 H;
• alkenyl groups having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and phenyl;
• (4) if m=0, X may also be chlorine;
• (5) if p=0, Y may also be chlorine;
• (6) if m=1, X and D independently may also be hydrogen;
• (7) if p=1, Y and C independently may also be hydrogen;
• (8) if m=1, and n=1, A is nitrogen;
• (9) if m=1 and n=0, A is one member selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur;
• (10) if p=1 and q=1, B is nitrogen;
• (11) if p=1 and q=0, B is one member selected from the group consisting of oxygen and sulfur;
• (12) and Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms, the substituted aryl group being substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, aryl, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, acyl, aroyl, carboxyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, nitro, alkyl sulfonyl, aryl sulfonyl, alkyl sulfinyl, and aryl sulfinyl, with a compound of the formula Ar--CH.sub.2 --CN, a quaternary ammonium compound in a water immiscible, or practically water-immiscible organic solvent, and a solution of alkali in water;
• (b) allowing the reaction to go to substantial completion;
• (c) acidifying the reaction mixture;
• (d) isolating the organic phase;
• (e) washing the organic phase until neutral, to thus produce the compound ##STR7## wherein the terms A, Ar, B, C, D, X, Y, m, n, p, and q have the meanings defined above;
• (f) oxidatively coupling the foregoing compound;
• and
• (g) isolating the novel radical initiator.