Firstly, 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol is reacted with formaldehyde and HCl (Blanc reaction) to generate a chloromethyl group in the less hindered meta position.

This intermediate then reacts with cyanuric acid to give the desired product.

Arranging three of these around an isocyanurate core gives a compound with a sufficiently high boiling point that it is not volatilised out of the plastic during plastic extrusion and moulding (up to 320 °C in the case of PA).

The isocyanurate core also promotes a high level of crystallinity, which greatly reduces extraction of the antioxidant into water.

It has good compatibility with the engineering plastics, high activity and low colour formation,[1] which makes it common choice in synthetic fibres (polyurethane, polyester and polyamide), particularly elastane.