Group transfer polymerization employing tris(disubstituted amino)sulfonium perfluorocarbanion salts as catalysts

In a group transfer polymerization process of monomer in the presence of a suitable silicon-, germanium- or tin-containing initiator and a catalyst, said process characterized in that the catalyst is the tris(disubstituted amino)sulfonium perfluorocarbanion salt of the formula ##STR16## wherein R.sup.1 through R.sup.6, each selected independently, are C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, each having at least 2 alpha hydrogen atoms, or any or all of the pairs R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, each pair selected independently, are --CH.sub.2 --.sub.4 or --CH.sub.2 --.sub.2 CHY--CH.sub.2 --.sub.2, wherein Y is hydrogen or methyl;

• R.sub.f.sup.1, R.sub.f.sup.2 and R.sub.f.sup.3, each selected independently, are F, C.sub.1-20 perfluoroalkyl or C.sub.4-12 perfluorocycloalkyl;
• and
• R.sub.f.sup.4 is C.sub.1-20 perfluoroalkyl or C.sub.4-12 perfluorocycloalkyl;
• or
• any one of the pairs R.sub.f.sup.1 and R.sub.f.sup.2, R.sub.f.sup.3 and R.sub.f.sup.4, R.sub.f.sup.1 and R.sub.f.sup.3, and R.sub.f.sup.2 and R.sub.f.sup.4, taken together, is --CF.sub.2 --.sub.n wherein n is an integer and is 2 to 6;
• or
• each of the pairs R.sub.f.sup.1 and R.sub.f.sup.2 and R.sub.f.sup.3 and R.sub.f.sup.4, or each of the pairs R.sub.f.sup.1 and R.sub.f.sup.3 and R.sub.f.sup.2 and R.sub.f.sup.4, taken together, is --CF.sub.2 --.sub.n wherein n, each selected independently, is an integer and is 2 to 6.