TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (disclosed): The sulfonium sulfate compound (I) or (II) is obtained by carrying out trans-esterification of sulfonium alkyl sulfate with non-volatile alcohol in presence of acid catalyst.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The heat-curable composition further contains solvent, reactive diluent, pigment, photoinitiator, dispersant, ethylenically unsaturated compound, binder (other than cationic polymerizable compound and ethylenically unsaturated compound), sensitizer, thermal curing promoter (other than sulfonium sulfate compound (I) or (II)), and/or additive. The cationic polymerizable compound is epoxy resin and has epoxy group, oxetane group or vinyl ether group. The ethylenically unsaturated compound is acrylic monomer. Full Definitions:    Y'(power)(n-)=monovalent or divalent anion of formula: R9-O-S(=O)2-O-, R10-O-S(=O)2-O- or -O-S(=O)2-O-Z-O-S(=O)2-O-;    n=1 or 2;    R1=3-20C cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, group of formula (a), -C(-R33)(R34)-C(R35)=C(R37)-R36, or 1-20C-alkyl optionally substituted by R1a and/or optionally interrupted by -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-;    R1a=F, Cl, Br, I, CN, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, or 3-20C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally having CO groups and/or R1');    R1',R1b=F, Cl, Br, I, 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, CN, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22 or CONR23R24;    R2,R3,R5-R8=1-20C-alkyl, 2-20C alkenyl or 2-20C alkynyl (all optionally substituted by R2a, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-), 3-20C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO or R2b), or 6-20C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by R2c);    R2a=R1a, or heteroaryl or 6-10C aryl (both optionally substituted by R2ac);    R2b=R1', or 6-10C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by R2bc);    R2ac,R2bc=R1' or NO2;    R2c=3-10C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO), R2ac or phenyl;    or R1+R2,R1+R3=linear 2-6C alkylene, linear 2-6C alkenylene, or -(CH2)a-C6H4-(CH2)b, in which alkylene, alkenylene and alkylene of -(CH2)a-C6H4- is optionally substituted by R32, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-;    a,b=0-10;    a+b=1-10;    or R2+R3,R5+R6,R7+R8=linear 2-6C alkylene, linear 2-6C alkenylene, or -(CH2)c-C6H4-(CH2)d, in which alkylene, alkenylene and alkylene of -(CH2)a-C6H4- is optionally substituted by R32, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-, or optionally fused to 1 or 2 phenyl rings;    R4,R9,R10=R2, -NR11R12 or -N=CR13R14, where two R2a groups of R4 are geminally bonded together to form N-hydroxyimino group;    R11,R12=R2, H, 2-20C alkanoyl or 3-20C alkenoyl (both optionally substituted by R11d), or 6-10C aroyl optionally substituted by R11e;    R11d=F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22 or CONR23R24;    or R11+R12=linear 2-5C alkylene or linear 2-5C alkenylene (both optionally substituted by R11f, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-), or phenylenedicarbonyl or 1,8-naphthalenedicarbonyl (both optionally substituted by R11f);    R11e,R11f=R2ac;    R13,R14=1-20C alkyl, 2-20C alkenyl or 2-20C alkynyl (all optionally substituted by R13a, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-), 3-20C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO or R13b), 6-20C aryl, heteroaryl or 6-20C aroyl (all optionally substituted by R13c), H, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22 or CONR23R24;    R13a=F, Cl, Br, I, CN, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, or 3-20C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO or R13ab) or phenyl optionally substituted by R13ac;    R13ab=R1';    R13b=F, Cl, Br, I, 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, CN, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, or phenyl optionally substituted by R13bc;    R13bc=R2ac;    R13c=R2c;    or R13+R14=linear 2-6C alkylene or linear 2-6C alkenylene (both optionally substituted by R32, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-);    R19,R20=H, 2-12C alkenyl, 3-10C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO), 1-20C alkyl optionally substituted by -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-, 1-8C alkyl substituted by R19a, -(CH2CH2O)mH, -(CH2CH2O)n(CO)-(1-8C alkyl), 2-8C alkanoyl, 2-8C haloalkanoyl, 3-6C alkenoyl, benzoyl optionally substituted by F, Cl, Br, I, 1-6C alkyl, OH or 1-4C alkoxy, phenyl or naphthyl (both optionally substituted by R19c), in which phenyl or naphthyl forms 5- or 6-membered ring through phenyl ring to which SR19 or OR20, respectively, is attached through a single bond, 1-4C alkylene, O, S, CO or NR23;    R19a=F, Cl, Br, I, OH, SH, CN, 3-10C cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, phenyl, 3-6C alkenoxy, -OCH2CH2CN, -OCH2CH2(CO)O(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-phenyl, -(CO)OH or -(CO)O(1-8C alkyl);    R19c=F, Cl, Br, I, 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, 1-12C alkoxy, phenyl-1-3C alkyloxy, phenoxy, 1-12C alkylsulfanyl, phenylsulfanyl, -(CO)O(1-8C alkyl), (CO)N(1-8C alkyl)2 or phenyl;    R21=H, 1-20C alkyl, 2-12C alkenyl, 1-20C alkyl optionally substituted by -O-, -S-, -CO- or -N(Rn)-, 1-8C alkyl substituted by R21a, -(CH2CH2O)oH, -(CH2CH2O)p(CO)-(1-8C alkyl), 3-10C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO), or 6-20C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by R21c);    R21a=F, Cl, Br, I, OH, SH, CN, phenyl, 3-6C alkenoxy, -OCH2CH2CN, -OCH2CH2(CO)O(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-phenyl, -(CO)OH or -(CO)O(1-8C alkyl);    R22=H, 1-20C alkyl, 2-12C alkenyl, 2-20C alkyl optionally substituted by -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -NRn-, 1-8C alkyl substituted by R22a, -(CH2CH2O)qH, 3-10C cycloalkyl or heteroycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO), phenyl or naphthyl (both optionally substituted by R22c);    R22a=F, Cl, Br, I, OH, SH, CN, 3-6C alkenoxy, -OCH2CH2CN, -OCH2CH2(CO)O(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-phenyl, -(CO)OH, -(CO)O(1-8C alkyl), or phenyl or naphthyl (both optionally substituted by R22ac);    R23,R24=H, OR20, 1-20C alkyl, 2-12C alkenyl, 2-20C alkyl substituted by -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -NRn-, 1-8C alkyl substituted by R23a, -(CH2CH20)sH, -(CH2CH20)t(CO)-(1-8C alkyl), 2-8C alkanoyl, 2-8C haloalkanoyl, 3-6C alkenoyl, benzoyl optionally substituted by F, Cl, Br, I, 1-6C alkyl, -OH or 1-4C alkoxy, 3-10C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO), or phenyl or naphthyl (both optionally substituted by R23c);    R23a=F, Cl, Br, I, OH, SH, CN, phenyl, 3-6C alkenoxy, -OCH2CH2CN, -OCH2CH2(CO)O(1-8C alkyl), -O(CO)-1-8C alkyl, -O(CO)-phenyl, -(CO)OH or -(CO)O(1-8C alkyl);    R21c,R22ac,R22c,R23c=R19c;    m-t=1-20;    or R23+R24=2-5C alkylene optionally substituted by -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-;    R25,R26,R33,R34=H, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, 1-20C alkyl substituted by R25a, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-, 3-20C-cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO or R25b), or 6-20C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by R25c);    R27-R31,R35-R37=H, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, 1-20C alkyl, 2-20C alkenyl or 2-20C alkynyl (optionally substituted R27a, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-), 3-20C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (optionally substituted by CO or R27b), or 6-20C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by R27c);    or R27+R28,R28+R29,R29+R30,R30+R31,R35+R36=linear 2-6C alkylene or linear 2-6C alkenylene (both optionally substituted by R32, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-, or optionally fused to 1 or 2 6-10C aryl rings);    or R25+R27=2-6C alkylene optionally substituted by R32, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-, or 1,2-phenylene optionally substituted by R32;    R32=F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, 1-20C alkyl, 2-20C alkenyl or 2-20C alkynyl (all optionally substituted by R32a, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-), 3-20C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO or R32b), or 6-20C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by R32c);    or R33+R35,R33+R37,R34+R35,R34+R37=2-6C alkylene optionally substituted by R32, -O-, -S-, -C(O)- or -N(Rn)-;    R25a,R27a,R32a=R13a;    R25b,R27b,R32b=R13b;    R25c,R27c,R32c=R13c;    M=1-20C alkylene, 2-20C alkenylene or 2-20C alkynylene (all optionally substituted by Rma or Rmi), 3-20C cycloalkylene or heterocycloalkylene (both optionally substituted by CO or Rmb), 6-20C arylene or heteroarylene (both optionally substituted by optionally substituted by Rmc);    Rmi=-O-, -S-, -C(O)-, OC(O)-, -N(Rn)-, 3-20C cycloalkylene, -O-3-20C-cycloalkylene, -O-3-20C-cycloalkylene-O-, heterocycloalkylene, 6-20C arylene, -O-6-20C arylene, -O-6-20C-arylene-O-, -S-6-20C arylene, -S-6-20C arylene-S- or heteroarylene, in which cycloalkylene and heterocycloalkylene are optionally substituted by CO or Rmib, and arylene and heteroarylene are optionally substituted by Rmic;    Rma=F, Cl, Br, I, CN, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, or 6-10C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22 or CONR23R24);    Rmib,Rmic=F, Cl, Br, I, 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24 or phenyl;    Rmb=F, Cl, Br, I, 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, CN, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, or 6-10C aryl or heteroaryl (both optionally substituted by 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22 or CONR23R24);    Rmc=F, Cl, Br, I, 1-12C alkyl, 1-12C haloalkyl, CN, NO2, SR19, OR20, COR21, COOR22, CONR23R24, phenyl, or 3-10C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (both optionally substituted by CO);    Z=1-20C alkylene optionally substituted by Rzi or Rza, or 6-20C arylene optionally substituted by Rzc;    Rzi=Rmi;    Rza=Rma;    Rzc=Rmc;and    Rn=H, 1-20C alkyl, 1-10C alkanoyl, 6-10C aroyl, 1-20C alkylsulfonyl, 2-20C alkenylsulfonyl, 6-10C arylsulfonyl, 6-10C aryl or heteroaryl, or 3-10C cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl (optionally substituted by CO).    When R1 is group (a) or -C(-R33)(R34)-C(R35)=C(R37)-R36, both R2 and R3 are 1-20C alkyl optionally substituted by R2a, -O-, -S-, -C(O)-, or -N(Rn), or 3-20C-cycloalkyl optionally substituted by CO or R2b.    EXAMPLE - 4-(Methylthio)-M-cresol (in g) (4.12) and benzylbromide (5.68) were mixed, stirred at room temperature for 16 hours, filtered and washed with acetone, to form white solid (7.63). The obtained white solid (325 mg) was suspended in water (3 ml), tetramethylammonium benzylsulfate (290 mg) was added to the reaction mixture at room temperature, extracted using methylsulfate and 2-butanone, organic layer was washed using water, and concentrated under vacuum, to obtain benzyl-(4-hydroxy-2-methyl-phenyl)-methyl-sulfonium benzyl sulfate (209 mg).