Styrylbenzimidazolium dye–borate complex as an effective,singlet state photoinitiator in an argon laser-induced TMPTA photopolymerization

Dye photoinitiators consisting of styrylbenzimidazolium cations, acting both as light absorbers and as electron acceptors and n-butyltriphenylborate anions being electron donors were tested in order to reveal the effect of a dye structure on the efficiency of multiacrylate photoinitiated polymerization. The efficiency of tested systems depends on the ΔG_el of electron transfer between borate anion and hemicyanine cation. The latter value was experimentally determined for 9 photoredox pairs. The relationship between the rate of polymerization and the free energy of activation of electron-transfer reaction shows the dependence predicted by the classical theory of electron-transfer phenomena. The kinetic studies clearly demonstrated that the styrylbenzimidazolium borate photoredox pairs are very promising photoinitiators for multiacrylates free radical polymerization. They initiate the polymerization reaction with the efficiency comparable to RBAX, Rose Bengal derivative, common triplet state initiator.     

Unusually highly efficient,singlet state,visible light photoinitiators based on styrylbenzimidazolium phenyltributylborate photoredox pairs for vinyl monomers free radical polymerization

In this article, hemicyanine dye–borate complexes, for example, 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐[4‐(N,N‐dialkylamino)styryl]benzimidazolium phenyl‐tri‐n‐butylborates, were employed as the novel, very effective photoinitiators operating in the visible light region. The influence of the sensitizers and electron donor structure on the photopolymerization kinetics of multiacrylate monomer was investigated by photo‐DSC. The maximum photopolymerization quantum yield measured for 2‐ethyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol triacrylate (TMPTA) was about 67 for sample of thickness of about 1 mm under 100 mW/cm² laser irradiation. It was found that the polymerization rate and the final conversion degree were depended on the dye structure. Moreover, the photoinitiating systems described gave a double bond conversion higher than the photoinitiator possessing as chromophore RBAX (Rose Bengal derivative), the common triplet state initiator. Additionally, the rate of photopolymerization depends on ΔG_el of electron transfer between borate anion and styrylbenzimidazolium cation. This latter value was estimated for a series of styrylbenzimidazolium borate salts. The relationship between the rate of polymerization and the free energy of activation for electron transfer reaction gives the dependence predicted by the classical theory of electron transfer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4119–4129, 2009     

Styrylpyridinium borate salts as dye photoinitiators of free‐radical polymerization

Styrylpyridinium borate salts photoinitiate free‐radical polymerization. The rate of photopolymerization depends on the ΔG^o of electron transfer between a borate anion and a styrypyridinium cation. This latter value was estimated for a series of styrylpyridinium borate salts, and the relationship between the rate of polymerization and the free energy of activation gives the dependence predicted by the classical theory of electron transfer. This relation was independently observed for the two series of styrylpyridinium borate salts tested—one for the photoredox pair with an iodine atom and the second without. Styrylpyridinium borate salts were stable at ambient temperature in the formulations prepared for the photopolymerization experiments. Photopolymerization initiated by the photoredox pairs tested proceeded by the conventional mechanism in which bimolecular termination occurs by a reaction between two macroradicals. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1433–1440, 2002     

New heterobicationic hemicyanine dyes: Synthesis,spectroscopic properties,and photoinitiating ability

This article describes the synthesis, spectroscopic properties, and free‐radical photoinitiation ability of new heterobicationic hemicyanine dyes. A new synthetic strategy for the preparation of unsymmetrical cyanine dyes has been developed, based on 2‐methylbenzothiazole derivative quaternization by 3‐pyridinium‐1‐bromopropane bromide and subsequent condensation of the resulting product with p‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)benzaldehyde. The tested dyes possess in one molecule two quaternary nitrogen atoms; that is, they are heterobicationic in nature. Novel hemicyanine dyes have been tested as visible‐light photoinitiators of vinyl monomer polymerization. Heterobicationic hemicyanine dyes paired with n‐butyltriphenylborate anions are very efficient photoinitiators of the free‐radical polymerization of trimethylolpropane triacrylate when irradiated with the visible emission of an argon‐ion laser. The photoinitiating abilities of the novel photoredox pairs are compared with the photoinitiation properties of their monocationic equivalent {3‐methyl‐2‐[4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)styryl]benzothiazolium n‐butyltriphenylborate} as well as a Rose Bengal derivative (a typical triplet‐state photoinitiator). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6345–6359, 2006     

Visible light-induced polymerization initiated by borate salts of bicationic monochromophoric benzothiazolestyrylium dyes

A series of bicationic monochromophoric hemicyanine dyes based on benzothiazolestyrylium residues were synthesized. The dyeing photoinitiating systems consisting of N-[3-(4-methylpyridino)propyl]-2-(p-substituted styryl)benzothiazolium dihalides as chromophores and n-butyltriphenylborate anion as electron donor were also prepared to achieve an efficient photoinitiators for free-radical polymerization in a visible-light region. The relative photoinitiating efficiencies of novel photoinitiators of acrylate monomers polymerization were evaluated.     

N‐methylpicolinium derivatives as the coinitiators in photoinitiating systems for vinyl monomers polymerization

Five N‐methylpicolinium derivatives were investigated to test their abilities to function as second coinitiators in free radical photopolymerization initiated by N,N′‐diethylcarbocyanine—n‐butyltriphenylborate photoredox pair ( P19B2 ). As it is shown by the kinetic data, an addition of picolinium derivatives into P19B2 photoinitiating system visibly increases the efficiency of photoinitiation. The results suggest that the rates of photoinitiation depend on the rate of the picolyl radicals formation. The redox potentials of tested N‐methylpicolinium derivatives were measured and the calculation of free energy change for the possible electron transfer reactions between all components of the system (both stable and transient individuals) was performed. The results suggest that cyanine dyes are able to start a specific chain of an electron transfer reactions involving different coinitiators (borate salt and N‐alkylpicolinium derivatives), giving as a result one photon—two‐radicals photochemical response. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 576–588, 2009     

Photopolymerization reactions initiated by a visible light photoinitiating system: Cyanine dye/borate salt/1,3,5‐triazine

New three‐component photoinitiating systems consisting of a cyanine dye, borate salt, and a 1,3,5‐triazine derivative were investigated by measuring their photoinitiation activities and through fluorescence quenching experiments. Polymerization kinetic studies based on the microcalorimetric method revealed a significant increase in polymerization rate when the concentration of n‐butyltriphenylborate salt or the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative were increased. The photo‐induced electron transfer process between electron donor and electron acceptor was studied by means of fluorescence quenching and SrEt change of the fluorescence intensity. The experiments performed documented that an increase of the n‐butyltriphenylborate salt concentration dramatically increases the rate of dye fluorescence quenching, whereas the increasing of the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative concentration slows down the consumption of the dye. We conclude that the primary photochemical reaction involves an electron transfer from the n‐butyltriphenylborate anion to the excited singlet state of the dye, followed by the reaction of the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative with the resulting dye radical to regenerate the original dye. This reaction simultaneously produces a triazinyl radical anion derived from the 1,3,5‐triazine, which undergoes the carbon‐halogen bond cleavage yielding radicals active in initiation of a free radical polymerization chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3626–3636, 2007     

Kinetic study of free‐radical polymerization photoinitiated by cyanine‐borate salts. II.

A series of cyanine butyltriphenylborate salts were prepared and tested as initiators of free‐radical polymerization photoinitiated via a photoinduced electron‐transfer process. For the majority of the tested series, the highest rate of photoinitiated free‐radical polymerization was observed when sec‐butyl radicals were formed. Essentially, there was no influence of the quantum yield of the free‐radical formation on the rate of the free‐radical polymerization initiated by the cyanine‐borate salts. The experimental data revealed that the relationship between the rate of polymerization and the free energy change for the electron transfer displayed typical Marcus region kinetic behavior. The photoreduction of the cyanine butyltriphenylborate salts produced colorless products. The efficiency of the bleached‐dye formation had no effect on the overall efficiency of photoinitiated polymerization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2365–2374, 2000     

The cyanine dye/trichloromethyl‐1,3,5‐triazine/thiols in two‐ and three‐component photoinitiating systems for free radical polymerization

The new photoinitiating systems for free radical polymerization of multifunctional monomers composed of carbocyanine dye, 1,3,5‐triazine derivative and heteroaromatic mercaptan were described. It was shown, that the polymerization abilities of such photoinitiatng systems are comparable with those observed for well‐known cyanine borate two‐component photoinitiating systems. The fluorescence quenching rate constants of tested sensitizer was about 2 × 10¹⁰ M^?1s^?1. Basing on the results of laser flash photolysis, the mechanism of the photochemical reactions occuring in the three‐component photoinitiating system was proposed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4243–4251, 2010     

Visible‐light‐sensitive photoredox catalysis by iron complexes: Applications in cationic and radical polymerization reactions

The development of iron complexes for the photoredox catalysis is a huge challenge. Indeed, Iron complexes can be ideal candidates due to their potential visible light absorption and redox properties but also because they are less toxic, inexpensive and environmentally friendly compared to other catalysts. In the present paper, a series of novel iron complexes have been synthesized and utilized to initiate the free radical promoted cationic polymerization of epoxides or the free radical polymerization of acrylates through photoredox catalysis processes upon exposure to near UV (385 nm) or visible violet (405 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs). When combined with an iodonium salt and N‐vinylcarbazole, the iron complex‐based photoinitiating systems are able to generate radicals, cations, and radical cations. The initiation efficiency is investigated through real‐time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a satisfactory initiating ability is found. The mechanisms for the generation of the reactive initiating species through photoredox catalysis are studied by different methods (steady state photolysis, cyclic voltammetry and electron spin resonance spin trapping techniques) and discussed in detail. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2247–2253     

Solvent extraction of tetraphenylarsonium ion pairs from mixed aqueous-organic solutions

Ion pairs of tetraphenylarsonium cation with iodide, bromide, and perrhenate anions were extracted into chloroform from mixed aqueous-organic solutions. The extraction of these ion pairs was found to increase in the presence of polar aprotic solvents in the mixed aqueous-organic phase. This effect was correlated with literature data on free energy of transfer of the Ph₄As⁺ ion, and ascribed to ion pair/solvent and/or ion/solvent interactions in the organic phase.     

Photolysis of hexaarylbiimidazole sensitized by dyes and application in photopolymerization

Kinetic studies on the near-UV photo-initiating polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) sensitized by dye/hexaarylbi-imidazole systems were carried out. When exposed to high-pressure mercury lamp (filtered by Pyrex glass), dye/hex-aarylbiimidazole system undergoes quick electron transfer and free radicals are produced. RSH, as hydrogen donor, can improve the polymerization efficiency of MMA. Comparisons of influence of different dyes and different RSH on the conversion of MMA photopolymerization were carried out. Excellent results have been obtained in photoimaging studies, e.g. a minimum exposure energy of the photosensitive systems of 8 mJ/cm2 can be reached and the resolution of presensitized printing plate was ca. 10 μm.     

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.     

Activation of hafnocene catalyzed polymerization of 1-hexene with MAO and borate

A study of 1-hexene polymerization with ethylene-bis(9-fluorenyl) hafnium dichloride has been carried out using two different cocatalyst systems, methyl-aluminoxane/trimethylaluminum (MAO/TMA) and tris-isobutyl-aluminum/N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate (TIBA/borate). When MAO/TMA was used, 1-hexene polymerized into a low molar mass poly(1-hexene) with low catalytic activity. Activation with TIBA/borate increased polymerization activity drastically as well as the molar mass of the polymers. In order to analyze differences in the activity profiles, UV-Vis spectroscopy was employed to investigate ligand to metal charge transitions (LMCT) of the hafnocene dichloride during the activation process. The low catalytic activity and the fast chain transfer to the cocatalyst with MAO/TMA may originate from strong bonding between the metallocene cation and the MAO/TMA species thus obstructing monomer coordination and insertion.     

N‐alkoxypyridinium salts as coinitiators in radical polymerization: Synthesis and Photochemical Properties

A few N‐alkoxypyridinium salts are developed as photoinitiators for efficient polymerization reactions. They are characterized by absorption properties below 300 nm, and generate alkoxy radicals on UV‐Vis light exposure. The squarylium dye was used as a blue‐light photosensitizer. Polymerization results are correlated with the photochemistry of N‐alkoxypyridinium salts. The quenching of the excited singlet state of squarylium dye by pyridinium salt and the formation of the semioxidized species of squaraine suggests an electron transfer from an excited dye to a coinitiator, and that the resulting oxygen‐centered radical initiates the polymerization process. The chemical mechanism was investigated by steady state photolysis and nanosecond laser flash photolysis experiments. Photoinitiating activity of new photoinitiators for initiation of polymerization of trimethylolpropane triacrylate in the UV‐blue light region was compared with photoinitiating ability of selected commercially available initiators. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2840–2850     

Electrode/Electrolyte Synergy for Concerted Promotion of Electron and Proton Transfers toward Efficient Neutral Water Oxidation

Neutral water oxidation is a crucial half-reaction for various electrochemical applications requiring pH-benign conditions. However, its sluggish kinetics with limited proton and electron transfer rates greatly impacts the overall energy efficiency. In this work, we created an electrode/electrolyte synergy strategy for simultaneously enhancing the proton and electron transfers at the interface toward highly efficient neutral water oxidation. The charge transfer was accelerated between the iridium oxide and in situ formed nickel oxyhydroxide on the electrode end. The proton transfer was expedited by the compact borate environment that originated from hierarchical fluoride/borate anions on the electrolyte end. These concerted promotions facilitated the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) events. Due to the electrode/electrolyte synergy, Ir−O and Ir−OO⁻ intermediates could be directly detected by in situ Raman spectroscopy, and the rate-limiting step of Ir−O oxidation was determined. This synergy strategy can extend the scope of optimizing electrocatalytic activities toward more electrode/electrolyte combinations.     

Novel multi-branched two-photon polymerization initiators of ketocoumarin derivatives

Novel multi-branched two-photon absorbing dyes containing highly efficient UV–vis curing initiator, ketocoumarin (3-acetyl-7-diethylaminocoumarin), were synthesized. There linear and non-linear optical properties were studied and the cooperatively enhanced two-photon absorption of two- and three-branched dyes were confirmed by femtosecond laser pulses. The largest two-photon absorption cross-section was obtained as 1117 GM. The results of photobleaching experiments showed that all dyes had very fast electron transferring speed with the commercial coinitiator o-Cl-hexaarylbisimidazoles (HABI). The two-photon polymerization initiated by a bimolecular system composed of the two-branched dye and HABI was investigated. This photopolymer system presented high photoinitiating efficiency. The single-shot two-photon exposure of the resin film was achieved with a threshold as 1 TW/cm² at 800 nm.     

Anion effect on mediated electron transfer through ferrocene-terminated self-assembled monolayers

Inorganic anions strongly influence the electron transfer rate from the ascorbate to the ferrocene-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) composed of 9-mercaptononyl-5'-ferrocenylpentanoate (Fc(CH2)4COO(CH2)9SH, MNFcP). At the 1 M concentration level of the supporting anion (sodium salt electrolyte), a more than 10-fold increase in the electrocatalytic oxidation rate constant of the ascorbate is observed in the following sequence: PF6-, ClO4-, BF4-, NO3-, Cl-, SO4(2-), NH2SO3- (sulfamate), and F-. The sequence corresponds to the direction of increasing hydration energy of the corresponding anion, suggesting that highly hydrated ions promote electrocatalytic electron transfer to the ferrocene-terminated SAMs, while poorly hydrated ions inhibit it. Fourier transform surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FT-SERS), in combination with cyclic voltammetry, indicates the formation of surface ion pairs between the ferricinium cation (Fc+) and low hydration energy anions, while, on the contrary, no ion pairs were observed in the electrolytes dominated by the high hydration energy anions. Though it is evident that the ion-pairing ability of hydrophobic anions is directly responsible for the electrocatalytic electron transfer inhibition, an estimate of the free, ion-unpaired Fc+ surface concentration shows that it cannot be directly related to the electron transfer rate. This suggests that the principal reason of the anion-induced electron transfer rate modulation might be related to the molecular level changes of the physical and chemical properties as well as the structure of the self-assembled monolayer.