A process for preparing advanced epoxy resins employing tetrahydrocarbyl phosphonium salts as catalysts and advanced epoxy resins prepared by the process.

摘要

An improved process for reacting vicinal epoxides with phenols or thiophenols is described. This process is conducted at essentially anhydrous conditions and temperatures less than 175 DEG C. The resulting resins are generally more linear and less colored than advanced resins produced via prior art processes. Also the phosphonium catalyst remains active to promote subsequent advancement or curing reactions. The catalyst can be deactivated in a separate step to produce a resin of exceptional purity.