Polyalkyleneglycol ethers of hydroxyalkylmercaptans and process

Abstract

Polyalkylene glycol ethers of β-hydroxymercaptans of the formula ##STR1## wherein R 1 is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl having from 2 to 22 carbon atoms, haloalkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, cycloalkylalkyl having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms and alkenyl having from 3 to 22 carbon atoms, R 2 and R 3 are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and R 1 and when taken together alkylene having from 3 to 4 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms in R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is from 4 to 22; A is a bivalent member having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkylene, haloalkylene and hydroxyalkylene; n is an integer from 0 to 50; m is an integer from 1 to 50; and the sum of n and m is an integer from 1 to 50. The compounds have surface-active properties and are useful per se or as intermediates.

We claim: 
     
       1. Polyalkylene glycol ethers of β-hydroxymercaptans of the formula ##STR5## wherein R 4  is an alkyl having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, R 5  and R 6  are members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl having from 1 to 21 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms in R 4 , R 5  and R 6  is from 4 to 22; Y is alkylene having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; n is an integer from .[.0 to 50.]. .Iadd.1 to 30.Iaddend.; m is an integer from .[.1 to 50.]. .Iadd.2 to 30.Iaddend.; and the sum of n and m is an integer from .[.1 to 50.]. .Iadd.4 to 30.Iaddend. . 
     
     
       2. The polyalkylene glycol ethers of claim 1 wherein R 5  and R 6  are hydrogen. .[.3. The polyalkylene glycol ethers of claim 1 wherein the sum of n and m is an integer from 4 to 30 and n is an integer from 1 to 30 and m is an integer from 2 to 30..]. .Iadd.4. The polyalkylene glycol ethers of claim 1 wherein Y is ethylene..Iaddend.