# US 6,294,698 B1 · Photoinitiators and applications therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,294,698 B1 - Document ID: US6294698B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/293,162 - Filed: 1999-04-16 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1999-04-16 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Inventors: Ronald S. Nohr; J. Gavin MacDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6294698B1 ## CPC - C07D 295/155: with the ring nitrogen atoms and the carbon atoms with three bonds to hetero atoms separated by carbocyclic rings or by carbon chains interrupted by carbocyclic rings - C07C 327/00: Thiocarboxylic acids - C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08) - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract The present invention is directed to new, energy-efficient photoinitiators in the form of organic sulfur-containing compounds. The present invention is also directed to a method of generating reactive species which includes exposing one or more photoinitiators to radiation to form one or more reactive species. Also described are methods of polymerizing unsaturated monomers, methods of curing an unsaturated oligomer/monomer mixture, and methods of laminating using the photoinitiators of the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photoinitiator having the following formula: wherein x is an integer from 1 to 4, and R1 and R2 each independently represent H— (R)2N— where R is an akyl group having from one to six carbon atoms; a chalcone; HSO3— or NaSO3—; wherein at least oen of R1 and R2 is not H—. ### Claim 2 A photoinitiator having the following formula: wherein x is an integer from 1 to 4. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method of generating a reactive species, comprising irradiating the photoinitiator of claim 1 with radiation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A method of generating a reactive species, comprising irradiating the photoinitiator of claim 2 with radiation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method of polymerizing an unsaturated polymerizable material, comprising irradiating an admixture of an unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A method of polymerizing an unsaturated polymerizable material, comprising irradiating an admixture of an unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A polymer film, produced by the process of: providing an admixture of an unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 1 that has been drawn into a film; and irradiating the film with an amount of radiation sufficient to polymerize the admixture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) A polymer film, produced by the process of: providing an admixture of an unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 2 that has been drawn into a film; and irradiating the film with an amount of radiation sufficient to polymerize the admixture. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method of coating a nonwoven web comprising: providing a nonwoven web coated with an admixture of unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 1; and irradiating the coating on the web with an amount of radiation sufficient to polymerize the admixture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A method of coating a nonwoven web comprising: providing a nonwoven web coated with an admixture of unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 2; and irradiating the coating on the web with an amount of radiation sufficient to polymerize the admixture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method of coating a fiber comprising: providing a fiber coated with an admixture of unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 1; and irradiating the coating on the fiber with an amount of radiation sufficient to polymerize the admixture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) A method of coating a fiber comprising: providing a fiber coated with an admixture of unsaturated polymerizable material and the photoinitiator of claim 2; and irradiating the coating on the fiber with an amount of radiation sufficient to polymerize the admixture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator has the following formula: ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator has the following formula: ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator has the following formula: wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The photoinitiator of claim 15, wherein the photoinitiator has the following formula: ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator has the following formula: wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The photoinitiator of claim 2, wherein the photoinitiator has the following formula: ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent (R)2N— where R is an alkyl group having from one to six carbon atoms; a chalcone; HSO3— or NaSO3—. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 represent ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 represent (R)2N— where R is an alkyl group having from one to six carbon atoms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 represent a chalcone. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 represent HSO3—. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The photoinitiator of claim 1, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 represent NaSO3—. ### Claim 25 A photoinitiator having the following formula: wherein x is an integer from 1 to 4; and wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent (R)2N— where R is an alkyl group having from one to six carbon atoms; a chalcone; HSO3— or NaSO3—.