| abstract |
A process for preparing an organomercaptan is provided which comprises reacting a sulfide of the general formula (I)in which each R1 is the same or different alkyl group of up to about 6 carbon atoms, aryl group of up to about 10 carbon atoms or alkoxy group of up to about 6 carbon atoms, or at least two of R1 and the silicon atom to which they are bonded form a ring system having up to about 12 ring members with no ethylenic unsaturation and optionally containing one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, each R2 is the same or different divalent hydrocarbon group containing no ethylenic unsaturation and having up to about 20 carbon atoms and m is 0 to about 8, with hydrogen under hydrogenolysis conditions in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of Group VIII metal catalyst and in the presence of a catalyst poisoning inhibiting amount of a catalyst poisoning inhibitory agent selected from the group consisting of water, except where the mercaptan product contains at least one hydrolyzable silane group, alkanol of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, hydrogen sulfide and mixtures thereof to provide organomercaptan product of the general formula (II)in which R1 and R2 each has one of the aforestated meanings. |