Role of cyclic dithiocarbonate as a promoter in the reaction of epoxide and imine in the presence of water

It was demonstrated that the reaction of epoxide and imine as a latent initiator under highly humid conditions was accelerated by addition of 5‐phenoxymethyl‐1,3‐oxathiolane‐2‐thione (1). When 1 was added to a mixture of glycidyl phenyl ether and an imine, the reaction of the epoxide with an amine released from the imine became faster than was the case without 1, that is, 1 worked as a promoter of the reaction. The curing rate and initial adhesive strength of epoxy resin increased compared with that without 1.