Wavelength tunability in photoinitiated cationic polymerization
Onium salts, widely used cationic photoinitiators, have absorption in the short wavelength of the UV spectrum. However, their spectral sensitivity can be tuned up to the visible region by using several methods. Photosensitization of onium salts, their charge transfer complex formation and their free radical promotion are some techniques that are used to provide wavelength flexibility. This chapter summarizes these methods. Upon irradiation photosensitizers such as anthracene, perylene and phenothiazine form exciplexes with onium salts generating reactive species via electron transfer. Furthermore, ground state charge transfer formation Correspondence/Reprint request: Dr. Y. Yagci, Istanbul Technical University, Department of Chemistry, Maslak, Istanbul 34469, Turkey. E-mail: yusuf@itu.edu.tr
Recent Developments of Versatile Photoinitiating Systems for Cationic Ring Opening Polymerization Operating at Any Wavelengths and under Low Light Intensity Sources
Photoinitiators (PI) or photoinitiating systems (PIS) usable in light induced cationic polymerization (CP) and free radical promoted cationic polymerization (FRPCP) reactions (more specifically for cationic ring opening polymerization (ROP)) together with the involved mechanisms are briefly reviewed. The recent developments of novel two- and three-component PISs for CP and FRPCP upon exposure to low intensity blue to red lights is emphasized in details. Examples of such reactions under various experimental conditions are provided.
Primary processes in the photosensitized polymerization of cationic monomers
A detailed time-resolved laser spectroscopy investigation has been carried out on the electron transfer reactions of substituted thioxanthone derivatives with diphenyliodonium (Ph-I+) salts having different metal halide counterions (MX−n). Quenching of thioxanthones' triplet state has been followed under various conditions, by changing the number and nature of substituents on the thioxanthone skeletone, using anion with different nucleophilicity and employing different solvents, namely methanol and acetonitrile. A Photosensitization mechanism is proposed involving an electron transfer from thioxanthone to diphenyliodonium salt. The absorption spectra of the thioxanthone's excited state and the formed new transient are recorded and the rate constants of the excited state processes are measured. The triplet state of thioxanthone derivatives has been quenched by cationically polymerizable monomers and the quantum yield of the major processes has been evaluated. Photolytic experiments have been performed to measure the extent of acid formation. Form photopolymerization experiments using different photoinitiating systems, the rate of polymerization and percentage of monomer conversion have been determined. Both the reactivity in the excited states and the nucleophilicity of the anions affect the efficiency of the photopolymerization reaction.