N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine compounds, with glycidyl or alkylcarbonyl groups as functional initiators for controlled radical polymerization

Abstract

The present invention relates to selected glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polaylkyl-piperidine compounds forming an open chain or cyclic ketal structure, a polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b) a glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiator compound. Further aspects of the present invention are a process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the use of glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiators for radical polymerization.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to selected glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine compounds forming an open chain or cyclic ketal structure, a polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b) a glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiator compound. Further aspects of the present invention are a process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the use of glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiators for radical polymerization.

[0002] The compounds of the present invention provide polymeric resin products having low polydispersity and the polymerization process proceeds with good monomer to polymer conversion efficiency. In particular, this invention relates to stable free radical-mediated polymerization processes which provide homopolymers, random copolymers, block copolymers, multiblock copolymers, graft copolymers and the like, at enhanced rates of polymerization and enhanced monomer to polymer conversions.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,429 to Solomon et al., issued Apr. 8, 1986, discloses a free radical polymerization process which controls the growth of polymer chains to produce short chain or oligomeric homopolymers and copolymers, including block and graft copolymers. The process employs an initiator having the formula (in part) R′R″N—O—X, where X is a free radical species capable of polymerizing unsaturated monomers. The reactions typically have low conversion rates. Specifically mentioned radical R′R″N—O groups are derived from 1,1,3,3 tetraethylisoindoline, 1,1,3,3 tetrapropylisoindoline, 2,2,6,6 tetramethylpiperidine, 2,2,5,5 tetramethylpyrrolidine or di-t-butylamine. However, the suggested compounds do not fulfill all requirements. Particularly the polymerization of acrylates does not proceed fast enough and/or the monomer to polymer conversion is not as high as desired.

[0004] The radical initiators, polymerization processes and resin products of the present invention have an additional glycidyl or carbonyl group, which can be used for further reactions. The resulting resins are useful in many applications.

[0005] The glycidyl or alkylcarbonyl group of the present initiators remains essentially unchanged during the radical polymerization reaction. Therefore the radical initiators of the present invention offer the possibility, after the radical polymerization is accomplished or stopped, to react the glycidyl group of the oligomers or polymers in a second step with nucleophiles such as alcohols, mercaptanes, amines, metal organic compounds or the like, thereby changing the properties of the oligomers or polymers.

[0006] The glycidyl group of the initiators can also be reacted in a first step for example by anionic polymerization in the presence of for example dicyandiamide, butyl-Lithium or other strong bases leading to oligomeric/polymeric radical initiators.

[0007] S. Kobatake et al, Macromolecules 1997, 30, 42384242 and in WO 97136894 disclose the anionic polymerization of butadiene in the presence of compound (a) which contains a glycidyl group in a side chain. This compound acts as a terminating reagent for the anionic polymerization of butadiene. 1

[0008] The resulting macromolecule can be further used as a macroinitiator for radical polymerization and for preparing block copolymers containing a poylbutadiene segment. Typical copolymers which can be produced are acrylnitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) copolymers.

[0009] The present invention provides initiators for radical polymerization which contain the glycidyl or alkylcarbonyl group attached to the phenyl group. The initiators show a high reactivity, good rates of polymerization and good monomer to polymer conversions.

[0010] The remaining glycidyl or carbonyl group is highly reactive towards nucleophiles and can readily be transformed into other chemical groups if desired.

[0011] The compounds of the present invention are also useful as terminating agents in the anionic polymerization of for example butadiene as described in WO 97/36894. With the instant compounds termination of anionic polymerization of for example butadiene proceeds fast and complete.

[0012] Glycidyl or carbonyl functional alkoxyamines containing a tetramethyl-piperidine group and their use as functionalized radical initiators/regulators have already been described in WO 99/46261. The instant compounds differ from those disclosed in WO 99/46261 in that they have a ketal structure in 4 position of the piperidine moiety. Such compounds and their use as polymerization initiators/regulators have neither been disclosed as specific compounds nor generically in the prior art.

[0013] It has now been found, that amongst those 2,2,6,6-tetraalkylpiperidines described in the prior art those are of particular value which are derivatives of 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl piperidine, 2,2 diethyl-6,6 dimethyl piperidine and of 2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl piperidine which are substituted in the 4 position by two oxygen atoms forming an open chain or cyclic ketal structure.

[0014] The ketal structure in 4 position ensures high thermal stability which is important for storage, particularly at elevated temperatures. The ketal structure is thermally significantly more stable compared to the corresponding 4-oxo compound.

[0015] The compounds exhibit an unchanged initiating/regulating activity even after storage at elevated temperatures as for example used in conventional stability tests.

[0016] Another problem associated with nitroxyl or nitroxyl ether mediated free radical polymerization is the formation of a significant color of the resulting polymer. The compounds of the present invention which have a ketal structure in 4-position impart less color to the polymer compared to other prior art compounds of similar structure.

[0017] The steric hindranc introduced by the two di thyl groups instead of two methyl groups further leads to an optimized balance in terms of stability of the compounds, initiating activity and control of polymerization.

[0018] The particular substitution pattern in 2 and 6 position of the piperidine ring allows high monomer to polymer conversions in short times and low polydispersities which are generally below 2. High monomer to polymer conversions are even achieved with acrylates, such as ethyl- or butyl-acrylate. The temperature necessary to achieve high conversion in short times may be for example as low as 120° C.

[0019] The present invention provides compounds useful as initiators/regulators for controlled radical polymerization which in addition have a highly reactive functional group allowing polymer analogous reactions or anionic polymerization termination, which can be adjusted in their initiating/controlling efficiency by adjusting the steric hindrance at the nitrogen atom and which have an excellent storage stability and impart none or only little color to the final polymer.

[0020] The compounds of the present invention are novel and consequently one subject of the instant invention is a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa 2

[0021] wherein

[0022] D is a group 3

[0023]  or a group C(O)—R13;

[0024] R13 is phenyl or C1-C18alkyl;

[0025] m is 1, 2 or 3;

[0026] n is 1 or 2;

[0027] if n is 1

[0028] Y and Y′ are independently C1-C12alkyl, C3-C12alkenyl, C3-C12alkinyl, C5-C8cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, C7-C9phenylalkyl; or

[0029] Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, CH(R1)—CH2—C(R2)(R3)—, —CH(R2)—CH2—C(R1)(R3)—, —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, o-phenylene, 1,2-cyclohexyliden,

[0030] —CH2—CH═CH—CH2— or 4

[0031]  wherein

[0032] R1 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, COOH, COO—(C1-C12)alkyl or CH2OR4;

[0033] R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, COOH or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl;

[0034] R4 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, benzyl, or a monovalent acyl residue derived from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic monocarboxylic acid having up to 18 carbon atoms;

[0035] if n is 2

[0036] Y and Y′ together form one of the tetravalent groups 5

[0037] Q is a bisacyl residue which is derived from a C2-C12dicarboxylic acid or C1-C12alkylene;

[0038] Z is C1-C12alkylene;

[0039] the R12 are independently of each other H or CH3.

[0040] C1-C18alkyl can be linear or branched. Examples are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, 2-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, 2-pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, t-octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, heptadecyl or octadecyl.

[0041] Alkenyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, isobutenyl, n-2,4-pentadienyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, n-2-octenyl, n-2-dodecenyl, isododecenyl.

[0042] Alkinyl having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propinyl (—CH2—C≡CH), 2-butinyl, 3-butinyl, n-2-octinyl or n-2-dodecinyl.

[0043] Examples of alkoxy are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, pentoxy, isopentoxy, hexoxy, heptoxy or octoxy.

[0044] C7-C9phenylalkyl is for example benzyl, α-methylbenzyl, α,α-dimethylbenzyl or 2-phenylethyl, benzyl is preferred.

[0045] C1-C12alkylene is a branched or unbranched radical, for example methylene, ethylene, propylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, hexamethylene, heptamethylene, octamethylene, decamethylene or dodecamethylene.

[0046] C5-C8cycloalkyl is for example cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, methylcyclopentyl or cyclooctyl.

[0047] Examples of a monocarboxylic acid having up to 18 carbon atoms are formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, the isomers of valeric acid, methyl ethyl acetic acid, trimethyl acetic acid, capronic acid, lauric acid or stearic acid. Examples for unsaturated aliphatic acids are acrylic acid, m thacrylic acid, crotonic acid, linolic acid and oleic acid.

[0048] Typical examples of cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids are cyclohexane carboxylic acid or cyclopentane carboxylic acid.

[0049] Examples of aromatic carboxylic acids are benzoic acid, salicylic acid or cinnamic acid.

[0050] Examples of dicarboxylic acids are oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, sebatic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid.

[0051] Preferred is a compound wherein in the formulae Ia, IIa or IIIa D is a group 6

[0052] Particularly preferred is a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa wherein

[0053] D is a group 7

[0054] m is 1;

[0055] n is 1;

[0056] Y and Y′ are independently C1-C12alkyl, C3-C12alkenyl, phenyl or benzyl; or

[0057] Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, CH(R1)—CH2—C(R2)(R3)—, —CH(R2)—CH2—C(R1)(R3)—, —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, —CH2—CH═CH—CH2— or wherein

[0058] R1 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, COO—(C1-C12)alkyl or CH2OR4;

[0059] R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl;

[0060] R4 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, benzyl, or a monovalent acyl residue derived from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic monocarboxylic acid having up to 12 carbon atoms and

[0061] one of the R12 is hydrogen and the other is methyl.

[0062] More preferred is a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa wherein

[0063] D is a group 8

[0064] m is 1;

[0065] n is 1;

[0066] Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)— wherein

[0067] R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;

[0068] R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl; and

[0069] one of the R12 is hydrogen and the other is methyl.

[0070] Especially preferred is a compound of formula IIIa.

[0071] Specifically preferred compounds are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

TABLE 1
1.) 2,6-Diethyl-4,4-dimethoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
9
2.) 4,4-Diethoxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethyl-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
10
3.) 2,6-Diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-4,4-dipropoxy-piperidine
11
4.) 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
12
5.) 2,6-Diethyl-4,4-diisobutoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
13
6.) 2,6-Diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-4,4-bis-octyloxy-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
14
7.) 4,4-Bis-allyloxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
15
8.) 4,4-Bis-cyclohexyloxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
16
9.) 4,4-Bis-benzyloxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
17
10.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4,5]decane
18
11.) 7,9-Diethyl-2,6,7,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4,5]decane
19
12.) 2,7,9-Triethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
20
13.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-2-propyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
21
14.) 2-Butyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
22
15.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-2-octyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
23
16.) 2-Decyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
24
17.) 2-Dodecyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy)-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
25
18.) {7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-yl}-methanol
26
19.) Acetic acid 7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trim thyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylm thoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
27
20.) Octadecanoic acid 7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4,5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
28
21.) Benzoic acid 7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
29
22.) 7,9-Diethyl-2-methoxymethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
30
23.) 2-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
31
24.) 2-Benzyloxymethyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
32
25.) Octanedioic acid bis-{7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl} ester
33
26.) Terephthalic acid bis-{7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl} ester
34
27.) 1′,4′-Bis-{7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-(1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy)-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}-oxybutane
35
28.) 7,9-Diethyl-2,2,6,7,9-pentamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
36
29.) 7,9-Diethyl-2,3,6,7,9-pentamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
37
30.) 4,4-(o-Phenylendioxy)-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1′-(4′-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
38
31.) 4,4-(1′,2′-cyclohexylendioxy)-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1″-(4″-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
39
32.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester
40
33.) 8,10-Diethyl-7,8,10-trim thyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
41
34.) 8,10-Diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
42
35.) 3,8,10-Triethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
43
36.) 3,3,8,10-Tetraethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
44
37.) 8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-3-propyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
45
38.) 3-Butyl-3,8,10-triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
46
39.) 2,4-Diethyl-1,2,4-trimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,16-dioxa-3-aza-dispiro[5.2.5.2]hexadec-11-ene
47
40.) {8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
48
41.) {3,8,10-Triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
49
42.) 8,10-Diethyl-3-methoxymethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
50
43.) 3-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
51
44.) 3-Benzyloxymethyl-8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
52
45.) Acetic acid 8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl ester
53
46.) Octanedioic acid bis-{8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl} ester
54
47.) 1′,6′-Bis-{3,8,10-triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}-oxyhexane
55
48.) 8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester
56
49.) 8,10-Diethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3,3-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester
57
50.) 3,3-Bis-{8,10-diethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza}-spiro[5.5]undecane
58
51.) 2,4-Diethyl-1,2,4-trimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,12-dioxa-3-aza-spiro[5.6]dodec-9-ene
59

[0072]

TABLE 2
1.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-dimethoxy-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
60
2.) 4,4-Diethoxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
61
3.) 2,2-Diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-4,4-dipropoxy-piperidine
62
4.) 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
63
5.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-diisobutoxy-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
64
6.) 2,2-Diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-4,4-bis-octyloxy-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
65
7.) 4,4-Bis-allyloxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
66
8.) 4,4-Bis-cyclohexyloxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
67
9.) 4,4-Bis-benzyloxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
68
10.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)- thoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]d cane
69
11.) 7,7-Diethyl-2,9,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
70
12.) 2,7,7-Triethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
71
13.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-2-propyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
72
14.) 2-Butyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
73
15.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-2-octyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
74
16.) 2-Decyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
75
17.) 2-Dodecyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
76
18.) {7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-yl}-methanol
77
19.) Acetic acid 7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
78
20.) Octadecanoic acid 7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
79
21.) Benzoic acid 7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
80
22.) 7,7-Diethyl-2-methoxymethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
81
23.) 2-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
82
24.) 2-Benzyloxymethyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
83
25.) Octanedioic acid bis-[7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl} ester
84
26.) Terephthalic acid bis-{7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl} ester
85
27.) 1′,4′-Bis-{7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}-oxybutane
86
28.) 7,7-Diethyl-2,2,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
87
29.) 7,7-Diethyl-2,3,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
88
30.) 4,4-(o-Phenylendioxy)-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1′-(4′-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
89
31.) 4,4-(1′,2′-cyclohexylendioxy)-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1″-(4″-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
90
32.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester
91
33.) 8,8-Diethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
92
34.) 8,8-Diethyl-3,3,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
93
35.) 3,8,8-Triethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
94
36.) 3,3,8,8-Tetraethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
95
37.) 8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-3-propyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
96
38.) 3-Butyl-3,8,8-triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
97
39.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,16-dioxa-3-aza-dispiro[5.2.5.2]hexadec-11-ene
98
40.) {8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
99
41.) {3,8,8-Triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
100
42.) 8,8-Diethyl-3-methoxymethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
101
43.) 3-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
102
44.) 3-Benzyloxymethyl-8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
103
45.) Acetic acid 8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl ester
104
46.) Octanedioic acid bis-{8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl} ester
105
47.) 1′,6′-Bis-{3,8,8-triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}-oxyhexane
106
48.) 8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester
107
49.) 8,8-Diethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3,3-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester
108
50.) 3,3-Bis-{8,8-diethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza}-spiro[5.5]undecane
109
51.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,12-dioxa-3-aza-spiro[5.6]dodec-9-ene
110

[0073]

TABLE 3
1.) 4,4-Dimethoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
111
2.) 4,4-Diethoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]piperidine
112
3.) 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-4,4-dipropoxy-piperidine
113
4.) 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
114
5.) 4,4-Diisobutoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
115
6.) 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-4,4-bis-octyloxy-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
116
7.) 4,4-Bis-allyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
117
8.) 4,4-Bis-cyclohexyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
118
9.) 4,4-Bis-benzyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]piperidine
119
10.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
120
11.) 2,7,7,9,9-Pentamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
121
12.) 2-Ethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
122
13.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-2-propyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
123
14.) 2-Butyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
124
15.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-2-octyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
125
16.) 2-Decyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
126
17.) 2-Dodecyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
127
18.) {7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-yl}-methanol
128
19.) Acetic acid 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
129
20.) Octadecanoic acid 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
130
21.) Benzoic acid 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester
131
22.) 2-Methoxymethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
132
23.) 2-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
133
24.) 2-Bnezyloxymethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
134
25.) Octanedioic acid bis-{7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl} ester
135
26.) Terephthalic acid bis-{7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl} ester
136
27.) 1′,4′-Bis-{7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}-oxybutane
137
28.) 2,2,7,7,9,9-Hexamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
138
29.) 2,3,7,7,9,9-Hexamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
139
30.) 4,4-(o-Phenylendioxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1′-(4′-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
140
31.) 4,4-(1′,2′-cyclohexylendioxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1″-(4″-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
141
32.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester
142
33.) 8,8,10,10-Tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
143
34.) 3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
144
35.) 3-Ethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
145
36.) 3,3-Diethyl-8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
146
37.) 3,8,8,10,10-Pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-3-propyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
147
38.) 3-Butyl-3-ethyl-8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
148
39.) 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,16-dioxa-3-aza-dispiro[5.2.5.2]hexadec-11-ene
149
40.) {3,8,8,10,10-Pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
150
41.) {3-Ethyl-8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
151
42.) 3-Methoxymethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
152
43.) 3-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
153
44.) 3-Benzyloxymethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
154
45.) Acetic acid 3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl ester
155
46.) Octanedioic acid bis-{3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl} ester
156
47.) 1′,6′-Bis-{8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}]-oxyhexane
157
48.) 3,8,8,10,10-Pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester
158
49.) 8,8,10,10-Tetramethy-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3,3-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester
159
50.) 3,3-Bis-{8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza}-spiro[5.5]undecane
160
51.) 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,12-dioxa-3-aza-spiro[5.6]dodec-9-ene
161
Particularly preferred are the following compounds:
4,4-Dibutoxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
162
7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
163
8,10-Diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
164
{8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
165
{3,8,10-Triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
166
4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
167
7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
168
8,8-Diethyl-3,3,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
169
{8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
170
{3,8,8-Triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol
171
4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine
172
7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane
173
3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxo-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
174
Most preferred is 3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane
175
A further subject of the invention is a polymerizable composition, comprising
a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer or oligomer, and
b) a compound of formula Ia, IIa, or IIIa
176
177
178

[0074] wherein

[0075] D is a group 179

[0076] or a group C(O)—R13;

[0077] R13 is phenyl or C1-C18alkyl;

[0078] m is 1, 2 or 3;

[0079] n is 1 or 2;

[0080] if n is 1

[0081] Y and Y′ are independently C1-C12alkyl, C3-C12alkenyl, C3-C12alkinyl, C5-C8cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, C7-C9phenylalkyl; or

[0082] Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, CH(R1)—CH2—C(R2)(R3)—, —CH(R2)—CH2—C(R1)(R3)—, —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, o-phenylene, 1,2-cyclohexyliden,

[0083] —CH2—CH═CH—CH2— or 180

[0084]  wherein

[0085] R1 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, COOH, COO—(C1-C12)alkyl or CH2OR4;

[0086] R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, COOH or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl;

[0087] R4 is hydrogen, C1-C18alkyl, benzyl, or a monovalent acyl residue derived from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic monocarboxylic acid having up to 18 carbon atoms;

[0088] if n is 2

[0089] Y and Y′ together form one of the tetravalent groups 181

[0090]  wherein

[0091] Q is a bisacyl residue which is derived from a C2-C12dicarboxylic acid or C1-C12alkylene;

[0092] Z is C1-C12alkylene;

[0093] the R12 are independently of each other H or CH3.

[0094] Definitions and preferences have already been given above for the compounds. They apply also for the composition.

[0095] The monomers suitable for use in the present invention may be water-soluble or water-insoluble. Water soluble monomers contain typically a salt of a carboxylic acid group. Water insoluble monomers are typically free of acid and phenolic groups. Typical metal atoms are Na, K or Li.

[0096] Typical monoethylenically unsaturated monomers free of carboxylic acid and phenolic groups which are suitable for this invention include the alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acids such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate and isobutyl methacrylate; the hydroxyalkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acids, such as hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and hydroxypropyl methacrylate; acrylamide, methacrylamid, N-tertiary butylacrylamide, N-m thylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide; acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, allyl alcohol, dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl m thacrylat phosphoethyl methacrylate, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylformamide, N-vinylimidazole, vinyl acetate, conjugated dienes such as butadiene or isoprene, styrene, styrenesulfonic acid salts, vinylsulfonic acid salts and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid salts and acryloil chloride.

[0097] Preferred ethylenically unsaturated monomers or oligomers are selected from the group consisting of styrene, substituted styrene, conjugated dienes, acrolein, vinyl acetate, (alkyl)acrylic acidanhydrides, (alkyl)acrylic acid salts, (alkyl)acrylic esters or (alkyl)acrylamides.

[0098] Particularly preferred ethylenically unsaturated monomers are styrene, α-methyl styrene, p-methyl styrene, butadiene, methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, propylacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, tert.-butyl acrylate and acrylnitril.

[0099] In a most preferred composition the ethylenically unsaturated monomer is styrene.

[0100] Preferred acrylates are methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, butylacrylate, isobutylacrylate, tert. butylacrylate, hydroxyethylacrylate, hydroxypropylacrylate, dimethylaminoethylacrylate, glycidylacrylates, methyl(meth)acrylate, ethyl(meth)acrylate, butyl(meth)acrylate, hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl(meth)acrylate, glycidyl(meth)acrylates, acrylonitrile, acrylamide or methacrylamide.

[0101] Examples for C8-C18 ethylenically unsaturated phenolics, which may also be used as comonomers include 4-hydroxy styrene, 4-hydroxy-α-methyl styrene, and 2,6-ditert. butyl, 4-vinyl phenol.

[0102] Another class of carboxylic acid monomers suitable for use as comonomers in this invention are the alkali metal and ammonium salts of C4-C6-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. Suitable examples include maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid and citraconic acid. Maleic anhydride (and itaconic acid are) is the preferred monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid monomer(s).

[0103] The acid monomers suitable for use in this invention are in the form of the alkali metal salts or ammonium salts of the acid.

[0104] The polymerizable composition of the present invention may additionally comprise a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, amides, sulfoxides, hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons.

[0105] The invention also relates to a free radical polymerization process and polymers obtained thereby, which process overcomes many of the problems and disadvantages of the afore mentioned prior art processes.

[0106] Preferably the initiator compound is present in an amount of from 0.01 mol-% to 20 mol-%, more preferably in an amount of from 0.01 mol-% to 10 mol-% and most preferred in an amount of from 0.05 mol-% to 10 mol-% based on the monomer or monomer mixture.

[0107] When monomer mixtures are used mol-% is calculated on the average molecular weight of the mixture.

[0108] Another subject of the present invention is a process for preparing an oligomer, a cooligomer, a polymer or a copolymer (block or random) by free radical polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer or oligomer, which comprises (co)polymerizing the monomer or monomers/oligomers in the presence of an initiator compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa under reaction conditions capable of effecting scission of the O—C bond to form two free radicals, the radical 182

[0109] being capable of initiating polymerization.

[0110] Preferably the scission of the O—C bond is effected by heating and takes place at a temperature of between 50° C. and 160° C.

[0111] Preferred initiators and ethylenically unsaturated monomers have already been mentioned above.

[0112] Polydispersity (PD) of the polymers prepared by the present invention is preferably between 1.0 and 2.0, more preferably between 1.1 and 1.8 and and most preferably between 1.1 and 1.6.

[0113] The process may be carried out in the presence of an organic solvent or in the presence of water or in mixtures of organic solvents and water. Additional cosolvents or surfactants, such as glycols or ammonium salts of fatty acids, may be present. Other suitable cosolvents are described hereinafter.

[0114] Preferred processes use as little solvents as possible. In the reaction mixture it is preferred to use more than 30% by weight of monomer and initiator, particularly preferably more than 50% and most preferrably more than 80%.

[0115] If organic solvents are used, suitable solvents or mixtures of solvents are typically pure alkanes (hexane, heptane, octane, isooctane), hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene), halogenated hydrocarbons (chlorobenzene), alkanols (methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether), esters (ethyl acetate, propyl, butyl or hexyl acetate) and ethers (diethyl ether, dibutyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether), or mixtures thereof.

[0116] The aqueous polymerization reactions can be supplemented with a water-miscible or hydrophilic cosolvent to help ensure that the reaction mixture remains a homogeneous single phase throughout the monomer conversion. Any water-soluble or water-miscible cosolvent may be used, as long as the aqueous solvent medium is effective in providing a solvent system which prevents precipitation or phase separation of the reactants or polymer products until after all polymerization reactions have been completed. Exemplary cosolvents useful in the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols, glycols, ethers, glycol ethers, pyrrolidines, N-alkyl pyrrolidinones, N-alkyl pyrrolidones, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, amides, carboxylic acids and salts thereof, esters, organosulfides, sulfoxides, sulfones, alcohol derivatives, hydroxyether derivatives such as butyl carbitol or cellosolve, amino alcohols, ketones, and the like, as well as derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Specific examples include methanol, ethanol, propanol, dioxane, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, dipropylene glycol, tetrahydrofuran, and other water-soluble or water-miscible materials, and mixtures thereof. When mixtures of water and water-soluble or water-miscible organic liquids are selected as the aqueous reaction media, the water to cosolvent weight ratio is typically in the range of about 100:0 to about 10:90.

[0117] When monomer mixtures or monomer/oligomer mixtures are used, the calculation of mol-% is based on an average molecular weight of the mixture.

[0118] Hydrophilic monomers, polymers and copolymers of th present invention can be separated from one another or from the polymerization reaction mixture by, for example, changing the pH of the reaction media and by other well known conventional separation techniques.

[0119] The polymerization temperature may range from about 50° C. to about 180° C., preferably from about 80° C. to about 150° C. At temperatures above about 180° C., the controlled conversion of the monomer into polymer decreases, and uncertain and undesirable by-products like thermally initiated polymer are formed or destruction of the polymerization regulator may occur. Frequently, these by-products discolor the polymer mixture and a purification step may be required to remove them, or they may be intractable.

[0120] Therefore high reactivity of the present initiators which are already active at relatively low temperatures leads to short reaction times. The resulting polymers are usually colourless and they can be used in most cases without any further purification step. This is an important advantage when industrial scale-up is considered.

[0121] After the polymerizing step is complete, the formed (co)polymer obtained is isolated. The isolating step of the present process is conducted by known procedures, e.g. by distilling off the unreacted monomer or by precipitation in a suitable nonsolvent, filtering the precipitated polymer followed by washing and drying the polymer.

[0122] Furthermore, block copolymers of this invention, wherein the blocks alternate between polar monomers and non-polar monomers, are useful in many applications as amphiphilic surfactants or dispersants for preparing highly uniform polymer blends.

[0123] The (co)polymers of the present invention may have a number average molecular weight from 1 000 to 400 000 g/mol, preferably from 2 000 to 250 000 g/mol and, more preferably, from 2 000 to 200 000 g/mol. When produced in bulk, the number average molecular weight may be up to 500 000 (with the same minimum weights as mentioned above). The number average molecular weight may be determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) or, if the initiator carries a group which can be easily distinguished from the monomer(s), by NMR spectroscopy or other conventional methods.

[0124] Thus, the present invention also encompasses in the synthesis novel block, multi-block, star, gradient, random, hyperbranch d and dendritic copolymers, as well as graft or copolymers.

[0125] The polymers prepared by the present invention are useful for example in following applications:

[0126] adhesives, detergents, dispersants, emulsifiers, surfactants, defoamers, adhesion promoters, corrosion inhibitors, viscosity improvers, lubricants, rheology modifiers, impact modifiers, thickeners, crosslinkers, paper treatment, water treatment, electronic materials, paints, coatings, photography, ink materials, imaging materials, superabsorbants, cosmetics, hair products, preservatives, biocide materials or modifiers for asphalt, leather, textiles, ceramics and wood.

[0127] Because the present polymerizaton is a “living” polymerization, it can be started and stopped practically at will. Furthermore, the polymer product retains the functional alkoxyamine group allowing a continuation of the polymerization in a living matter. Thus, in one embodiment of this invention, once the first monomer is consumed in the initial polymerizing step a second monomer can then be added to form a second block on the growing polymer chain in a second polymerization step. Therefore it is possible to carry out additional polymerizations with the same or different monomer(s) to prepare multi-block copolymers.

[0128] Furthermore, since this is a radical polymerization, blocks can be prepared in essentially any order. One is not necessarily restricted to preparing block copolymers where the sequential polymerizing steps must flow from the least stabilized polymer intermediate to the most stabilized polymer intermediate, such as is the case in ionic polymerization. Thus it is possible to prepare a multi-block copolymer in which a polyacrylonitrile or a poly(meth)acrylate block is prepared first, then a styrene or butadiene block is attached thereto, and so on.

[0129] Furthermore, there is no linking group required for joining the different blocks of the present block copolymer. One can simply add successive monomers to form successive blocks.

[0130] A plurality of specifically designed polymers and copolymers are accessible by the present invention, such as star and graft (co)polymers as described, inter alia, by C. J. Hawker in Angew. Chemie, 1995, 107, pages 1623-1627, dendrimers as described by K. Matyaszewski et al. in Macromol cules 1996, Vol 29, No.12, pages 4167-4171, graft (co)polymers as described by C. J. Hawker et al. in Macromol. Chem. Phys. 198, 155-166(1997), random copolymers as described by C. J. Hawker in Macromolecules 1996, 29, 2686-2688, or diblock and triblock copolymers as described by N. A. Listigovers in Macromolecules 1996, 29, 8992-8993.

[0131] Still further subjects of the invention are a polymer or oligomer, containing at least one initiator group Polymer 183

[0132] and at least one oxyamine group of formula Ib, IIb or IIIb 184

[0133] wherein Y and Y′ are as defined above, obtainable by the process described above; and the use of a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

[0134] Also subject of the invention is the use of a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa for terminating the anionic polymerization of a diene or vinyl monomer.

[0135] When the compounds are used for such termination reactions they are usually used in an equimolar amount or in excess to the initiating base, such as for example sec. butyl-litium.

[0136] The preparation of the compounds of the present invention is carried out according to known reaction steps. A general method for the preparation of the compounds of formula Ia, IIa, and IIIa starts from th 4-oxo compounds Xa or XIa which are described in GB 2335190 or from XIIa which is a known compound described for xample in DE 2352127. 185

[0137] These starting compounds are reacted for example with suitable monoalcohols, diols or tetrafunctional alcohols to form intermediates of formula Xb, XIb or XIIb wherein Y, Y′ and n are as defined above. Such ketalization reactions are well known in the art and the corresponding compounds are mostly known. The reaction is for example described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,790,525, 3,899,464, 4,007,158 and 4,105,626. 186

[0138] The compounds of formula Xb, XIb and XIIb are oxidized according to standard procedures to the corresponding nitroxides of formula Xc, XIc and XIIc, as for example described in GB 2335190 or WO 99/46261. 187

[0139] The nitroxides are then reacted with a compound of formula 188

[0140] wherein R12 and m are as defined above to obtain a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa.

[0141] This coupling reaction is also descriebed for example in GB 2335190 or in WO 99/46261. Preferably the coupling reaction is carried out in the presence of a Cu(II) salt according to the method described in International Application No. PCT/EP01/05668.

[0142] Alternatively the nitroxides of formula Xc, XIc or XIIc can be reacted with a compound of formula 189

[0143] The reaction products are subsequently hydrolyzed to form a compound of formula Xd, XId or XIId. 190

[0144] These compounds are novel and consequently are also subject of the present invention. The above given definitions and preferences apply also for the compounds of formula Xd, XId and XIId.

[0145] The compounds of formula Xd, XId and XIId can be reacted with epichlorohydrine and compounds according to formula Ia, IIa or IIIa are obtained.

[0146] The following examples illustrate the invention.

[0147] Preparation of an intermediate according to formula XIId.

[0148] Preparation of Acetic Acid 4-[1-(3,3,8,8,10,10-hexamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-9-yloxy)-ethyl]-phenyl Ester 191

[0149] A mixture of 25.6 g 3,3,8,8,10,10-hexamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan-9-oxyl (prepared according to EP 574666A1) and 82.1 g acetic acid 4-ethyl-phenyl ester are heated to 50° C. with stirring and 0.68 ml of an ethanolic solution containing 0.13 g copper(II)chloride is added. The temperature is raised to 65° C. and 19.4 g of an aqueous solution of butylhydroperoxide in water (70%) are dropwise added. The reaction mixture is allowed to further react for 22 h at 65°-70° C. and subsequently cooled to room temperature. Excess tert.-butylhydroperoxide is removed by dropwise adding 4 ml of an aqueous sodium pyrosulfite solution (20%). To the reaction mixture 50 ml acetic acid ethylester are added and the organic and aqueous phase are separated. The organic phase is washed with a saturated NaCl solution. After drying with sodium sulfate and evaporation of the solvent an oil is obtained, from which excess acetic acid 4-ethyl-phenyl ester is removed by distillation (100° C./0.025 mbar). The residue is dissolved in methanol/hexane (4/1 by volume) on heating to refux. After cooling to 0° C. the precipitate is filtered off. After recrystalization from acetone white crystals are obtained having a melting point of 124-125° C.

[0150] Preparation of 4-[1-(3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-9-yloxy)-ethyl]-phenol 192

[0151] A mixture of 8 g acetic acid 4-[1-(3,3,8,8,10,10-hexamethyl-1,5-ioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-9-yloxy)-ethyl]-phenyl ester and 3.9 g potassium carbonate in 60 ml methanol is stirred for one hour at room temperature. The mixture is cooled to 0° C. and neutralized by adding 60 ml of 0.5 M hydrochloric acid. The white suspension is diluted with water (60 ml) and filtered through a buchner funnel. The residue is washed with water and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. A white solid having a melting point of 133-134° C. is obtained.

[0152] Preparation of Compounds According to Formulae Ia, IIa and IIIa

EXAMPLE A1

Preparation of 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan

[0153] 193

[0154] A mixture of 50 g 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan-8-oxyl (prepared according to EP 574666A1) and 124.75 g 2-(4-ethyl-phenoxymethyl)-oxiran are heated to 60° C. with stirring and a solution of 0.32 g copper(II)chloride in 1.6 ml ethanol is added. 45 g of an aqueous solution of butylhydroperoxide in water (70%) is dropwise added. The reaction mixture is allowed to further react for 16 h at 60° C. and subsequently cooled to room temperature. Excess tert.-butylhydroperoxide is removed by dropwise adding 15 ml of an aqueous sodium pyrosulfite solution. To the reaction mixture 100 ml acetic acid ethylester are added and the organic and aqueous phase are separated. The organic phase is washed twice with 200 ml of a saturated NaCl solution. After drying with sodium sulfate and evaporation of the solvent an oil is obtained, from which excess 2-(4-ethyl-phenoxymethyl)-oxiran is removed by distillation (100° C./0.005 mbar). The residue is dissolved in hexane filtered over aluminium oxide and the solvent is again evaporated. After recrystalization from hexane white crystals are obtained having a melting point of 73.5-74.2° C.

EXAMPLE A2

Preparation of 3,3,8,8,10,10-hexamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan

[0155] 194

[0156] The title compound is prepared in analogy to exampl A1 from 3,3,8,8,10,10-hexamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan-9-oxyl (prepared according to EP 574666A1). White crystals are obtained.

[0157] Elemental analysis: calculated: 69.25% C; 9.07% H; 3.23% N; found: 68.86% C; 9.05% H; 3.18% N.

[0158] The following compounds are prepared according to example A1, starting from the corresponding nitroxide.

		Phys.
No.	Struktur	Daten	NMR Data
A3	195		1H-NMR (400 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.63 (broad s, 3 H); 1.0-1.95 (m, 16 H); 1.45-1.47 (d, 3 H); 2.73-2.75 (m, 1 H); 2.88-2.9 (m, 1 H); 3.2-3.55 (m, 2 H); 3.85-4.3 (m, 4 H); 4.72-4.77 (q, 1 H); 6.84-6.87 and 7.22-7.25 (aromatic H, 4 H).
A4	196	m.p. 52-58.5° C.
A5	197	m.p. 118.5-121° C.
A6	198	m.p. 88.5-93° C.
A7	199	m.p. 64.5-67° C.
A8	200	m.p. 102-109° C.
A9	201	m.p. 56-59° C.
A10	202		1H-NMR (400 MHz; δin ppm; CDCl3): 0.55-1.65 (m, 31 H); 1.95-2.25 (m, 2 H); 2.74-2.76 (m, 1 H); 2.89-2.91 (m, 1 H); 3.35 (m, 1 H); 3.5 (m, 4 H); 3.94-3.98 (m, 1 H); 4.17-4.21 (m, 1 H); 4.71-476 (q, 1 H); 6.84-6.87 and 7.22-7.25 (aromatic H, 4 H).
A11	203	m.p. 119.5-128° C.
A12	204	m.p. 116-121.5° C.
A13	205	m.p. 66.5-68.5° C.
A14	206	m.p. 42-55° C.
A15	207		1H-NMR (400 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.55-2.4 (m, 39 H); 2.74-2.76 (m, 1 H); 2.88-2.91 (m, 1 H); 3.3-3.7 (m, 9 H); 3.94-3.98 (m, 1 H); 4.17-4.21 (m, 1 H); 4.71-4.76 (q, 1 H); 6.84-6.87 and 7.22-7.25 (aromatic H, 4 H).
A16	208	m.p. 82-88° C.	1H-NMR (400 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.6-1.65 (m, 23 H); 2-2.25 (m, 2 H); 2.75-2.78 (m, 1 H); 2.89-2.91 (m, 1 H); 3.3-3.4 (m, 1 H); 3.45 (s, 4 H); 3.9-4.0 (m, 1 H); 4.15-4.25 (m, 1 H); 4.7-4.77 (q, 1 H); 6.75-7.25 (aromatic H, 4 H).
A17	209		1H-NMR (300 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.7-1.7 (m, 17 H); 0.95 (s, 6 H); 2-2.25 (m, 2 H); 2.74-2.79 (m, 1 H); 2.87-2.9 (m, 1 H); 3.3-3.4 (m, 1 H); 3.46 (s, 4 H); 3.9-4.05 (m, 1 H); 4.15-4.25 (m, I H); 5.2-5.3 (q, 1 H); 6.8-7.5 (aromatic H, 4 H).

EXAMPLE A18

{4-[1-(3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-9-yloxy)-ethyl]-phenyl}-phenyl-methanone

[0159] A mixture of 50 g 3,3,8,8,10,10-hexamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan-9-oxyl (CAS 98254-32-1) and 41 g (4-Ethyl-phenyl)-phenyl-methanone (preparation by Friedel-Crafts acylation of 4-ethylbenzene with benzoylchloride) is heated to 60° C. and a solution of 0.26 g copper(II)chlorid in 1.3 ml ethanol is added. 53.7 g of a 70% aqueous solution of tert-butylhydroperoxide in water are added dropwise. The reaction mixture is allowed to further react for 28 h and subsequently cooled to room temperature. Excess tert-butylhydroperoxide is then removed by dropwise adding an aqueous solution of sodium pyrosulfite. To the reaction mixture 100 ml of ethyl acetate are added and the organic phase is separeted from the aqueous phase. The organic phase is washed twice with water (200 ml) and the solvent evaporated. The residue is purified chromatographically on silica gel with hexane/ethyl acetate (7:3 by volume) as the eluente. After recrystallization from pentane/ethanol (5:3 by volume) white crystals of a compound of formula 210

[0160] are obtained having a melting range of 104-117° C.

[0161] 1 H-NMR (300 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.7 (s broad, 3H); 0.94 (s broad, 6H); 1.18 (s broad, 3H); 1.33 (s broad, 6H); 1.51-1.53 (d, 3H); 1.4-1.65 (m, 2H); 2-2.25 (m, 2H); 3.46 (s broad, 4H); 4.84-4.91 (q, 1H); 7.4-7.9 (aromatic H, 9H).

EXAMPLE A19

8,8-Diethyl-3,3,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane

[0162] To a stirred mixture of 25.6 g 8,8-diethyl-3,3,10,10-tetramethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan-9-oxyl and 80.2 g 2-(4-ethyl-phenoxymethyl)-oxirane at 50° C. is added a solution of 0.12 g copper(II)chloride in 0.6 ml ethanol. The temperature of the reaction mixture is increased to 70° C. and 11.6 g of a 70% aqueous solution of tert-butylhydroperoxide in water are added dropwise. The reaction mixture is allowed to further react for 6 h at 70° C. and subsequently cooled to room temperature. Excess tert-butylhydroperoxide is removed by dropwise adding an aqueous solution of sodium pyrosulfite (2 ml). To the reaction mixture 50 ml of ethyl acetate and 50 ml 10% aqueous solution of sodium chloride are added. The mixture is filtered through celite and the organic phase is separeted. The organic phase is washed three times with 10% aqueous solution of sodium chloride (100 ml) and dried over sodium sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent an oil is obtained, from which excess 2-(4-ethyl-phenoxymethyl)-oxirane is removed by distillation (80° C., 0.025 mbar). A highly viscous residue is obtained which crystallises on standing at room temperature. After recrystallization twice from methanol whit crystals of the compound of formula 211

[0163] are obtained having a melting point of 82-85° C.

[0164] According to the preparation of 8,8-Diethyl-3,3,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxyphenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane, the following compounds are synthesized in analogy:

No.	Structure	NMR-data
A20	212	1H-NMR (400 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.4-2.5 (m, 27 H); 2.75-2.76 (m, 1 H); 2.89-2.91 (m, 1 H); 3.34-3.36 (m, 1 H); 3.4-3.55 (m, 2 H); 3.7-3.85 (m, 2 H); 3.94-3.98 (m, 1 H); 4.18-4.21 (m, 1 H); 4.63-4.68 (q, 1 H); 6.84-6.86 and 7.19-7.21 (aromatic H, 4 H).
A21	213	1H-NMR (400 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.5-2.2 (m, 23 H); 2.74-2.76 (m, 1 H); 2.89-2.91 (m, 1 H); 3.33-3.37 (m, 1 H); 3.7-4.05 (m, 5 H); 4.18-4.21 (m, 1 H); 4.64-4.69 (q, 1 H); 6.84-6.87 and 7.19-7.21 (aromatic H, 4 H).

EXAMPLE A22

8,10-diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxyl]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5,5]undecane

[0165] To a stirred mixture of 59.7 g 8,10-diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan-9-oxyl and 178.2 g 2-(4-ethyl-phenoxymethyl)-oxirane a solution of 0.27 g copper(II)chloride in 1.35 ml ethanol is added at about 60° C. Then 38.7 g of a 70% aqueous solution of tert-butylhydroperoxide in water are added dropwise. An exothermic reaction started and the temperature is kept at 70° C. The reaction mixture is allowed to further react for 24 h at 70° C. and subsequently cooled to room temperature. The reaction mixture is diluted with 100 ml of ethyl acetate. Excess tert-butylhydroperoxide is removed by dropwise adding an aqueous solution of sodium pyrosulfite (70 ml) below 20° C. The organic phase is separeted, washed twice with 10% aqueous solution of sodium chloride (100 ml) and dried over sodium sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent an oil is obtained, from which excess 2-(4-ethyl-phenoxymethyl)-oxirane is removed by distillation (80° C., 0.025 mbar). A highly viscous resin is obtained which is dissolved in methanol (20 ml) and cooled to about −18° C. White crystals precipitate and are collected by filtration having a melting point of 141-147° C. The compound has the following structural formula 214

[0166] According to the preparation of 8,10-Diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane, the following compound is synthesized in analogy:

No.	Structure
A23	215	1H-NMR (400 MHz; δ in ppm; CDCl3): 0.5-2.3 (m, 25 H); 2.75-2.76 (m, 1 H); 2.89-2.91 (m, 1 H); 3.34-3.36 (m, 1 H); 3.7-4.1 (m, 5 H); 4.18-4.21 (m, 1 H); 4.66-4.72 (m, 1 H); 6.83-6.86 and 7.18-7.21 (aromatic H, 4 H).

[0167] Polymerization Experiments with Styrene

EXAMPLE B1

[0168] Styrene is distilled under reduced pressure prior to use. In a dry, argon-purged Schlenk tube, the amounts of nitroxyl ether given in Table 1 are dissolved in 50 ml styrene. The solution is degass d in three consecutive freeze-thaw-cycles and then purged with argon. The stirred solution is then immersed in an oil bath and polymerized at the given temperature for 6 hours. After polymerization, residual monomer is removed under vacuum at 60° C. and the polymer is dried at 60° C. in vacuo until constant weight is achieved.

[0169] Molecular weight and molecular weight distributions are determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) on a HP 1090 liquid chromatograph (software: winGPC/Polymer Standard Services, Mainz, Germany) using THF as eluent and a column combination calibrated with narrow polystyrene standards (Polymer Laboratories). The results are given in Table 1.

[0170] NOR of example A2 216

TABLE 1
			Styrene
	Temp.	mol %	Conversion	Mn	Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
NOR	[° C.]	NOR	(%)	(calc.)	(GPC)	(GPC)	(GPC)
Example A2	120	1 mol %	40	4700	4300	5200	1.24
Example A2	120	0.1 mol %	44	46000	28400	36900	1.30
Example A2	130	1 mol %	48	5300	4800	5800	1.21
Example A2	130	0.1 mol %	61	64500	37200	49500	1.33

[0171] Following the general description of example B1 further polymerizations in styrene were carried out and the following results obtained.

EXAMPLE B2

[0172] NOR of example A1 217

TABLE 2
	Temp.	Mol %	Yield	Mn
Exp. #	(° C.)	NOR	(%)	(calc.)	Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
1	120	1	20	2400	1800	2200	1.25
2	120	0.1	41	43400	23300	37000	1.59
3	130	1	41	4700	3500	4300	1.23
4	130	0.1	55	58000	30900	42900	1.39

EXAMPLE B3

[0173] NOR of example A6 218

TABLE 3
	Temp.	Mol %	Yield	Mn
Exp. #	(° C.)	NOR	(%)	(calc.)	Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
1	120	1	41	4600	3700	4500	1.22
2	120	0.1	46	47900	32500	41000	1.26
3	130	1	46	5200	3900	4700	1.18
4	130	0.1	61	63800	38600	50200	1.30

EXAMPLE B4

[0174] NOR of example A5 219

TABLE 4
	Temp.	Mol %	Yield	Mn
Exp. #	(° C.)	NOR	(%)	(calc.)	Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
1	120	1	39	4500	3500	4300	1.21
2	120	0.1	51	53500	34800	42700	1.23
3	130	1	52	5800	4400	5500	1.24
4	130	0.1	59	61800	31400	44200	1.41

EXAMPLE B5

[0175] NOR of example A4 220

TABLE 5
	Temp.	Mol %	Yield	Mn
Exp. #	(° C.)	NOR	(%)	(calc.)	Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
1	120	1	26	3100	2600	3200	1.23
2	120	0.1	37	39000	27700	35400	1.28
3	130	1	51	5700	4800	6000	1.24
4	130	0.1	57	59600	35400	47800	1.35

EXAMPLE B6

[0176] NOR of example A9 221

TABLE 6
	Temp.	Mol %	Yield	Mn
Exp. #	(° C.)	NOR	(%)	(calc.)	Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
1	120	1	26	3100	2700	3300	1.26
2	120	0.1	38	40400	28100	35700	1.27
3	130	1	54	6100	5000	6000	1.20
4	130	0.1	60	62600	37600	49500	1.32

[0177] Polymerization with n-BuA

EXAMPLE B7

[0178] n-Butylacrylate is destined under reduced pressure prior to use. In a dry, argon-purged Shlenk tube, the amounts of nitroxyl ether given in Table A are dissolved in 62.5 ml n-butylacrylate. The solution is degassed in three consecutive freez-thaw-cycles and then purged with argon. The stirred solution is th n immersed in an oil bath and polym riz d at 130° C. for 6 hours. After polymerization, residual monomer is removed under vacuum at 30° C. and the polymer is dried at 30° C. in vacuum until constant weight is achieved.

[0179] Molecular weight and molecular weight distributions are determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) on a HP 1090 liquid chromatograph (software: winGPC/Polymer Standard Services, Mainz, Germany) using THF as eluent and a column combination calibrated with narrow polystyrene standards (Polymer Laboratories). The results are given in Table 7.

TABLE 7
	Temp.	mol %	n-BuA		Mn	Mw	Mw/Mn
NOR of	[° C.]	NOR	Conv. [%]	Mn (calc.)	(GPC)	(GPC)	(GPC)
example A20	130	1 mol %	45	6217	6761	8095	1.20
example A20	130	0.1 mol %	41	52856	45900	56710	1.24
example A19	130	1 mol %	54	7373	7046	8574	1.22
example A19	130	0.1 mol %	35	45731	39070	47090	1.21
example A22	130	1 mol %	61	8233	8137	9762	1.20
example A22	130	0.1 mol %	60	77326	57120	72870	1.28

EXAMPLE B8

Anionic Polymerization and Termination of Isoprene with the Compound of Example A2

[0180] To 10.2 g (0.15 mol) isoprene dissolved in 50 ml dry toluene in a dried ampule with teflon valve equipped with a magnetic stir bar are added in a dry argon atmosphere 3.34×10−3 mol sec.-butyllithium (1.3 mol/L solution in cyclohexane, Fluka) and stirred for 18 hours at room temperature to allow polymerization. Subsequently a sample of the resulting prepolymer is drawn via syringe, dried at room temperature in vacuo and submitted to GPC. To the residual, slightly yellow polyisoprene solution is slowly added a calculated amount of the compound of example A2 (1.2 and 1.5 fold molar excess with respect to the initial molar amount of sec.-butyllithium used) (dissolved in toluene and degassed) via syringe. The mixture is allowed to react for another 6 hours at room temperature. Subsequently the termination reaction is quenched adding a few ml of degassed methanol. Volatiles are removed in vacuo and the resulting polyisoprene is obtain d as a slight yellow rubber after drying at room temperature in vacuo until constant weight is achieved. Molecular weights are determined by GPC on a HP 1090 equipped with a RI and DAAD (set at 254 nm) detector with THF as eluent (1 ml/min), using PS standards for calibration.

				Mn(GPC) (RI
	terminating	conversion		detection)	Mw/Mn
	agent of	isoprene	Mn (calc.)	prepolymer/polymer	prepolymer/polymer
Ex.	example A2	(%)	(prepolymer)	after reaction	after reaction
1	1.2 × excess	93	2800	2700*	3500**	1.23*	1.16**
2	1.5 × excess	81	2400	2600*	3300**	1.20*	1.14**
*polymer before termination with the compound of example A2
**polymer after termination with the compound of example A2

[0181] Reinitiation of Terminated Polyisoprene with Styrene (Terminating Agent is Compound of Example A2)

[0182] In a dried, argon purged Schlenk tube equipped with an argon inlet and a magnetic stir bar, 5 g of samples 1 and 2 above are dissolved in 25 g of freshly distilled styrene each. The solutions are degassed by two consecutive freeze-thaw cycles and immersed in an oil bath at 120° C. to allow polymerization. After 6 hours, residual monomer is removed in vacuo and the resulting polymer is dried in vacuo at 70° C. until constant weight is achieved. Molecular weights are determined as described before.

	macroinitator	conversion	Mn	Mn	Mw/
example	used	styrene (%)	(initial)	(blockcopolymer)	Mn
3	1	24	3500	5900	1.27
4	2	24	3300	4400	1.34

Claims

1. A compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein D is a group

3. A compound according to claim 1 wherein in the compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa D is a group 227m is 1; n is 1; Y and Y′ are independently C1-C12alkyl, C3-C12alkenyl, phenyl or benzyl; or Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, CH(R1)—CH2—C(R2)(R3)—, —CH(R2)—CH2—C(R1)(R3)—, —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, —CH2—CH═CH—CH2— or; wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, COO—(C1-C12)alkyl or CH2OR4; R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, benzyl, or a monovalent acyl residue derived from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic monocarboxylic acid having up to 12 carbon atoms and one of the R12 is hydrogen and the other is methyl.

4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein in the compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa D is a group 228m is 1; n is 1; Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)— wherein R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl; and one of the R12 is hydrogen and the other is methyl.

5. A compound according to claim 1 which is of formula IIIa.

6. A compound according to claim 1 of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa which is 1.) 2,6-Diethyl-4,4-dimethoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 2.) 4,4-Diethoxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 3.) 2,6-Diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]4,4-dipropoxy-piperidine 4.) 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 5.) 2,6-Diethyl-4,4-diisobutoxy-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidin 6.) 2,6-Diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-4,4-bis-octyloxy-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 7.) 4,4-Bis-allyloxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 8.) 4,4-Bis-cyclohexyloxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 9.) 4,4-Bis-benzyloxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 10.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 11.) 7,9-Diethyl-2,6,7,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 12.) 2,7,9-Triethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 13.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-2-propyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 14.) 2-Butyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 15.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-2-octyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 16.) 2-Decyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 17.) 2-Dodecyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 18.) {7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-yl}methanol 19.) Acetic acid 7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 20.) Octadecanoic acid 7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 21.) Benzoic acid 7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 22.) 7,9-Diethyl-2-methoxym thyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 23.) 2-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 24.) 2-Benzyloxymethyl-7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 25.) Octanedioic acid bis-{7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}ester 26.) Terephthalic acid bis-{7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl) ester 27.) 1′,4′-Bis-{7,9-diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-(1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy)-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}oxybutane 28.) 7,9-Diethyl-2,2,6,7,9-pentamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 29.) 7,9-Diethyl-2,3,6,7,9-pentamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 30.) 4,4-(o-Phenylendioxy)-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1′-(4′-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 31.) 4,4-(1′,2′-cyclohexylendioxy)-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1″-(4″-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 32.) 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester 33.) 8,10-Diethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 34.) 8,10-Diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 35.) 3,8,10-Triethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 36.) 3,3,8,10-Tetraethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 37.) 8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-3-propyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 38.) 3-Butyl-3,8,10-triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 39.) 2,4-Diethyl-1,2,4-trimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,16-dioxa-3-aza-dispiro[5.2.5.2]hexadec-11-ene 40.) {8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-t tramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol 41.) {3,8,10-Triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol 42.) 8,10-Diethyl-3-methoxymethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 43.) 3-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 44.) 3-Benzyloxymethyl-8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 45.) Acetic acid 8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl ester 46.) Octanedioic acid bis-{8,10-diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}ester 47.) 1′,6′-Bis-3,8, 10-triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}-oxyhexane 48.) 8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester 49.) 8,10-Diethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3,3-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester 50.) 3,3-Bis-{8,10-diethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza}-spiro[5.5]undecane 51.) 2,4-Diethyl-1,2,4-trimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,12-dioxa-3-aza-spiro[5.6]dodec-9-ene 52.) 2,2-Diethyl4,4-dimethoxy-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 53.) 4,4-Diethoxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 54.) 2,2-Diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-4,4-dipropoxy-piperidine 55.) 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 56.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-diisobutoxy-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 57.) 2,2-Diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-4,4-bis-octyloxy-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-thoxy]-piperidine 58.) 4,4-Bis-allyloxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 59.) 4,4-Bis-cyclohexyloxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 60.) 4,4-Bis-benzyloxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 61.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 62.) 7,7-Diethyl-2,9,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 63.) 2,7,7-Triethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 64.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-11-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-2-propyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 65.) 2-Butyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 66.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-2-octyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 67.) 2-Decyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 68.) 2-Dodecyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 69.) {7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-yl}methanol 70.) Acetic acid 7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 71.) Octadecanoic acid 7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 72.) Benzoic acid 7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 73.) 7,7-Diethyl-2-methoxymethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan 74.) 2-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan 75.) 2-Benzyloxymethyl-{7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 76.) Octanedioic acid bis-7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}ester 77.) Terephthalic acid bis-{7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}ester 78.) 1′,4′-Bis-{7,7-diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}-oxybutane 79.) 7,7-Diethyl-2,2,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 80.) 7,7-Diethyl-2,3,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 81.) 4,4-(o-Phenylendioxy)-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1′-(4′-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 82.) 4,4-(1′,2′-cyclohexylendioxy)-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1″-(4″-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 83.) 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester 84.) 8,8-Diethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 85.) 8,8-Diethyl-3,3,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 86.) 3,8,8-Triethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 87.) 3,3,8,8-Tetraethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 88.) 8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-3-propyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 89.) 3-Butyl-3,8,8-triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 90.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,16-dioxa-3-aza-dispiro[5.2.5.2]hexadec-11-ene 91.) {8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}methanol 92.) {3,8,8-Triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}methanol 93.) 8,8-Diethyl-3-methoxymethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 94.) 3-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 95.) 3-Benzyloxymethyl-8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 96.) Acetic acid 8,8-diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl ester 97.) Octanedioic acid bis-{8,8-diethyl-3, 10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}ester 98.) 1′,6′-Bis-{3,8,8-triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}-oxyhexane 99.) 8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester 100.) 8,8-Diethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3,3-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester 101.) 3,3-Bis-{8,8-diethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza}spiro[5.5]undecane 102.) 2,2-Diethyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,12-dioxa-3-aza-spiro[5.6]dodec-9-ene 103.) 4,4-Dimethoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 104.) 4,4-Diethoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 105.) 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]4,4-dipropoxy-piperidine 106.) 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 107.) 4,4-Diisobutoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 108.) 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-4,4-bis-octyloxy-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 109.) 4,4-Bis-allyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 110.) 4,4-Bis-cyclohexyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 111.) 4,4-Bis-b nzyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 112.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 113.) 2,7,7,9,9-Pentamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 114.) 2-Ethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 115.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-2-propyl-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 116.) 2-Butyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 117.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-2-octyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 118.) 2-Decyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 119.) 2-Dodecyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 120.) {7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-yl}-methanol 121.) Acetic acid 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 122.) Octadecanoic acid 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 123.) Benzoic acid 7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl ester 124.) 2-Methoxymethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 125.) 2-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 126.) 2-Benzyloxymethyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 127.) Octanedioic acid bis-{7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}ester 128.) Terephthalic acid bis-{7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}ester 129.) 1′,4′-Bis-{7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]dec-2-ylmethyl}oxybutane 130.) 2,2,7,7,9,9-Hexamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 131.) 2,3,7,7,9,9-Hexamethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane 132.) 4,4-(o-Phenylendioxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1′-(4′-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 133.) 4,4-(1′,2′-cyclohexylendioxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1″-(4″-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine 134.) 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester 135.) 8,8,10,10-Tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 136.) 3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 137.) 3-Ethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 138.) 3,3-Diethyl-8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 139.) 3,8,8,10,10-Pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-3-propyl-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 140.) 3-Butyl-3-ethyl-8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 141.) 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,16-dioxa-3-aza-dispiro[5.2.5.2]hexadec-11-ene 142.) {3,8,8,10,10-Pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}methanol 143.) {3-Ethyl-8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol 144.) 3-Methoxymethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecan 145.) 3-Cyclohexyloxymethyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 146.) 3-Benzyloxym thyl-3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane 147.) Acetic acid 3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-0.3-ylmethyl ester 148.) Octanedioic acid bis{3,8,8,10,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}ester 149.) 1′,6′-Bis-{8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-ylmethyl}-oxyhexane 150.) 3,8,8,10,10-Pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester 151.) 8,8,10,10-Tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane-3,3-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester 152.) 3,3-Bis-{8,8,10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza}spiro[5.5]undecane 153.) 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-3-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-7,12-dioxa-3-aza-spiro[5.6]dodec-9-ene

7. A compound according to claim 6 of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa which is 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,6-diethyl-2,3,6-trimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine; 7,9-Diethyl-6,7,9-trimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane; 8,10-Diethyl-3,3,7,8,10-pentamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane; {8,10-Diethyl-3,7,8,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}methanol; {3,8,10-Triethyl-7,8,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}methanol; 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2-diethyl-6,6-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine; 7,7-Diethyl-9,9-dimethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane; 8,8-Diethyl-3,3, 10,10-tetramethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]und cane; {8,8-Diethyl-3,10,10-trimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol; {3,8,8-Triethyl-10,10-dimethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undec-3-yl}-methanol; 4,4-Dibutoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-piperidine; 7,7,9,9-Tetramethyl-8-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane; 3,3,8,8,10,10-Hexamethyl-9-[1-(4-oxiranylmethoxy-phenyl)-ethoxy]-1,5-dioxa-9-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane.

8. A polymerizable composition, comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer or oligomer, and b) a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa 229 wherein D is a group 230 or a group C(O)—R13; R13 is phenyl or C1-C18alkyl; m is 1, 2 or 3; n is 1 or 2; if n is 1 Y and Y′ are independently C1-C12alkyl, C3-C12alkenyl, C3-C12alkinyl, C5-C8cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, C7-C9phenylalkyl; or Y and Y′ together form one of the bivalent groups —C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, CH(R1)—CH2—C(R2)(R3)—, —CH(R2)—CH2—C(R1)(R3)—, —CH2—C(R1)(R2)—CH(R3)—, o-phenylene, 1,2-cyclohexyliden, —CH2—CH═CH—CH2— or 231 wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, COOH, COO—(C1-C12)alkyl or CH2OR4; R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen, methyl ethyl, COOH or COO—(C1-C12)alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, benzyl, or a monovalent acyl residue derived from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic monocarboxylic acid having up to 18 carbon atoms; if n is 2 Y and Y′ together form one of the tetravalent groups 232 wherein Q is a bisacyl residue which is derived from a C2-C12dicarboxylic acid or C1-C12alkylene; Z is C1-C12alkylene; the R12 are independently of each other H or CH3.

9. A polymerizable composition according to claim 8, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomers or oligomers are selected from the group consisting of styrene, substituted styrene, conjugated dienes, acrolein, vinyl acetate, (alkyl)acrylic acidanhydrides, (alkyl)acrylic acid salts, (alkyl)acrylic esters or (alkyl)acrylamides.

10. A polymerizable composition according to claim 9, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomers are styrene, α-methyl styrene, p-methyl styrene, butadiene, methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, propylacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, tert.-butyl acrylate and acryinitril.

11. A polymerizable composition according to claim 8, wherein the compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa is present in an amount of from 0.01 mol-% to 20 mol-% based on the monomer.

12. A process for preparing an oligomer, a cooligomer, a polymer or a copolymer (block or random) by free radical polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer or oligomer, which comprises (co)polymerizing the monomer or monomers/oligomers in the presence of an initiator compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa under reaction conditions capable of effecting scission of the O—C bond to form two free radicals, the radical

13. A process according to claim 12, wherein the scission of the O—C bond is effected by heating and takes place at a temperature of between 50° C. and 160° C.

14. A polymer or oligomer, containing at least one initiator group

15. Use of a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa according to claim 1 for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

16. Use of a compound of formula Ia, IIa or IIIa according to claim 1 for terminating the anionic polymerization of a diene or vinyl monomer.

17. A compound according to formula Xd, XId or XIId