Photocationic and radical polymerizations of epoxides and acrylates by novel sulfonium salts

Novel sulfonium salts [methyl‐, 2‐indany‐, or 1‐ethoxycarbonylethyl methyl‐2‐naphthylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate and 2‐indany‐, 1‐ethoxycarbonylethyl‐, 2‐methyl‐2‐phenylpropyl‐, 2‐phenylpropyl‐, 2‐phenylethyl‐, 2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐ethyl‐, or 3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐propyl methylphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphates] were synthesized by the reaction of dimethylsulfate and the corresponding sulfides followed by anion exchange with KPF₆. These sulfonium salts could polymerize epoxy monomers at lower temperatures than previously reported for benzylsulfonium salt initiators. In particular, sulfonium salts with naphthyl groups showed higher photoactivity than already reported for di(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)iodonium and triphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphates. These sulfonium salts showed higher activity in photoradical polymerization and photocationic polymerization. The photopolymerization was accelerated by the addition of 4‐methoxy‐1‐naphthol, N‐ethylcarbazole, 2,4‐dimethylthioxanthone, phenothiazine, and 2‐ethyl‐9,10‐dimethoxyanthracene as photosensitizers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3816–3827, 2003     

Novel pyridinium salts as cationic thermal and photoinitiators and their photosensitization properties

Novel pyridinium salts [N‐(α‐phenylbenzyl)‐, N‐(1‐naphthylmethyl)‐, or N‐cinnamyl p‐ or o‐cyanopyridinium hexafluoroantimonates] were synthesized by the reaction of p‐ or o‐cyanopyridine and the corresponding bromides followed by anion exchange with KSbF₆. These pyridinium salts polymerized epoxy monomers at lower temperatures than previously reported for N‐benzyl‐2‐cyanopyridinium hexafluoroantimonate. The o‐substituted pyridinium salts showed higher activity than the p‐substituted ones, and the crosslinked epoxy polymers cured with these initiators showed higher glass‐transition temperatures. These pyridinium salts photoinitiated radical polymerization as well as cationic polymerization. The photopolymerization was accelerated by the addition of aromatic ketones as photosensitizers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1037–1046, 2002     

Photopolymerization behavior in nanocomposites formed with thiol–acrylate and polymerizable organoclays

Because of the inherent characteristics of the thiol–ene step growth mechanism in preparation of thiol–ene photopolymer clay nanocomposites, the ratio between thiol and ene functional groups at and near the organoclay surfaces may have a significant effect on the polymerization behavior. This study investigates the influence of monomer composition and the type of polymerizable organoclay on thiol–acrylate photopolymerization behavior in preparation of photocurable clay nanocomposite systems. To this end, two types of polymerizable organoclays with acrylate or thiol functional group on the clay surfaces were compared in monomer compositions with different polarity and functionality. Real‐time infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize polymerization behavior in conjunction with photo‐DSC. The degree of clay exfoliation was evaluated using small angle X‐ray scattering and correlated with photopolymerization behavior. Higher chemical compatibility of components induced enhanced clay exfoliation resulting in increase in photopolymerization rate. By affecting the stoichiometric ratio of functional groups in the clay gallery, thiolated organoclays enhance thiol–ene reaction, whereas acrylated organoclays encourage acrylate homopolymerization. In addition, inducing more propagating thiyl radicals on the organoclay surfaces by increasing functionality of thiol monomer also facilitates thiol–ene copolymerization, whereas the increase of acrylate functionality reduces final thiol conversion. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Thiol–enes: Chemistry of the past with promise for the future

The photopolymerization of mixtures of multifunctional thiols and enes is an efficient method for the rapid production of films and thermoset plastics with unprecedented physical and mechanical properties. One of the major obstacles in traditional free‐radical photopolymerization is essentially eliminated in thiol–ene polymerizations because the polymerization occurs in air almost as rapidly as in an inert atmosphere. Virtually any type of ene will participate in a free‐radical polymerization process with a multifunctional thiol. Hence, it is possible to tailor materials with virtually any combination of properties required for a particular application. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5301–5338, 2004     

Ultrathin gradient films using thiol‐ene polymerizations

The application of surface‐attached, thiol‐ene polymer films for controlling material properties in a gradient fashion across a surface was investigated. Thiol‐ene films were attached to the surface by first depositing a thiol‐terminated self‐assembled monolayer and performing a thiol‐ene photopolymerization reaction on the surface. Property gradients were created either by creating and modifying a gradient in the surface thiol density in the SAM or by changing the polymerization conditions or both. Film thickness was modified across the substrate by changing either the density of the anchoring thiol functional groups or by changing the reaction conditions such as exposure time. Thicker films (1–11 nm) were obtained by polymerizing acrylate polymer brushes from the surface with varying exposure time (0–60 s). The two factors, that is, the surface thiol density and the exposure time, were combined in orthogonal directions to obtain thiol‐ene films with a two‐dimensional thickness gradient with the maximum thickness being 4 nm. Finally, a thiol‐acrylate Michael type addition reaction was used to modify the surface thiol density gradient with the cell‐adhesive ligand, Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐Ser (RGDS), which subsequently yielded a gradient in osteoblast density on the surface. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 7027–7039, 2006     

Thiol‐ene photopolymerization of polymer‐derived ceramic precursors

The liquid, ceramic precursor monomer VL20 was copolymerized with a thiol monomer in a traditional radical thiol‐ene photopolymerization. Polymerization occurred via addition of the thiol functional group to the vinyl silazane functional group in a 1:1 ratio consistent with a step‐growth polymerization. Gelation occurred at a high conversion of functional groups (70%) consistent with an average molecular weight and functionality of 560 and 1.7, respectively, for VL20 monomers. Initiatorless photopolymerization of the thiol‐VL20 system also occurred upon irradiation at either 365 or 254 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1752–1757, 2004     

A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization

A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization is proposed and validated. Environmental humidity is one of the major interfering factors in cationic photopolymerization, and cationic photopolymerization is found to be inhibited by high humidity. When curing cycloaliphatic epoxide based cationic UV curable materials flexibilized by various reactive diluents under different humidity conditions, it was found that the more hydrophobic materials exhibited higher monomer conversion under higher humidity. To obtain cationic UV curable materials that are less influenced by humidity, a humidity blocker approach was proposed and monomer conversion of materials containing both hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents and epoxy‐siloxane were examined using real‐time FTIR. The hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents act as an internal hydroxyl source that enhances monomer conversion through chain transfer mechanism, and the hydrophobic epoxy‐siloxane acts as a humidity blocker, mitigating the inhibiting effects of humidity. Cationic UV curable materials with an optimized combination of these two components exhibited higher and more consistent monomer conversion under a range humidity conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4344–4351, 2008     

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization of epoxy alcohol monomers

A series of epoxy alcohols were prepared by simple, straightforward methods. These compounds were very reactive monomers that polymerized rapidly on UV irradiation in the presence of cationic photoinitiators. The kinetics of the cationic photopolymerization of these monomers were studied with diaryliodonium salt photoinitiators and real‐time IR spectroscopy. The rate of epoxide ring‐opening polymerization was enhanced markedly by the presence of the hydroxy group. Using model compounds, the monomers were shown to polymerize via an activated monomer mechanism. Simple epoxy alcohols polymerized to give polymers with a hyperbranched structure. The novel monomers also were observed to accelerate the rate of the photopolymerization of mono‐ and multifunctional epoxides. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 389–401, 2000     

Photopolymerization of ternary thiol–ene/acrylate systems: Film and network properties

Photocurable, ternary‐component mixtures of a 1:1 molar multifunctional thiol–ene (trithiol and triallyl ether) blend and a 16‐functional acrylate based monomer have been photopolymerized, and the final film properties of the ternary crosslinked networks have been measured. The photopolymerization kinetics, morphology, and mechanical and physical properties of the films have been investigated with real‐time infrared, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The photopolymerization process is a combination of acrylate homopolymerization and copolymerizations of thiol with allyl ether and acrylate functionalities. The tan δ peaks of the photopolymerized ternary systems are relatively narrow and tunable over a large temperature range. The morphology is characterized by a distinct phase‐separated nanostructure. The photocured thiol–ene/acrylate ternary systems can be made to exhibit good mechanical properties with enhanced energy absorption at room temperature by the appropriate selection of each component concentration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 822–829, 2007.     

Photosensitization of carbazole derivatives in cationic polymerization with a novel sensitivity to near‐UV light

Photosensitizers based on the carbazole structure were designed and developed for cationic polymerization. Along with triarylsulfonium and diaryliodonium salts, the carbazole derivatives showed a high photosensitization effect in the cationic photopolymerization of epoxides. The photophysical properties of the carbazole derivatives were studied in terms of electronic absorption, fluorescence, and phosphorescence spectrometry. Moreover, a unique photosensitization mechanism of the carbazole derivatives was discussed after studies of the fluorescence quenching, redox behavior, and kinetics of the photopolymerization by time‐resolved fluorescence spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and photo differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The results confirmed the redox photosensitization of the carbazole derivatives in cationic polymerization. The photosensitization of the carbazole and its ring or N‐alkylated derivatives occurred predominantly in singlet excited states at the rate of the diffusion limit, whereas the carbazole derivatives with carbonyl substituents sensitized onium salts via triplet excited states on the basis of the Rehm–Weller equation in the photoinduced electron‐transfer process. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 90–100, 2000     

Design and synthesis of highly reactive photopolymerizable epoxy monomers

The synthesis of a series of novel cationically photopolymerizable epoxide monomers bearing benzyl, allyl, and propargyl acetal and ether groups that can stabilize free radicals was carried out. These monomers display enhanced reactivity in cationic photopolymerization in the presence of certain onium salt photoinitiators. Specifically, this article describes schemes for the synthesis of cycloaliphatic epoxy monomers bearing free‐radical stabilizing groups. During UV irradiation of an onium salt cationic photoinitiator, the aryl radicals that are generated abstract labile protons present in such monomers to generate the corresponding carbon‐centered radicals. Subsequently, these radicals can interact with the onium salt by a redox mechanism to induce the decomposition of these salts. The overall result is that additional cationic species are generated by this mechanism that increase the rate and extent of the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of the epoxide monomer. An investigation of the photopolymerizations of the monomers prepared during this work was carried out using Fourier transform real‐time infrared spectroscopy, and conclusions were drawn with respect to the relationship between their structures and reactivity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2385–2395, 2001     

Novel N‐methylbenzothiazolium salts as hardeners for epoxy and acrylate monomers

Novel N‐methylbenzothiazolium salts [N‐methyl‐2‐benzylthiobenzothiazolium, N‐methyl‐2‐(4‐nitrobenzylthio)benzothiazolium, N‐methyl‐2‐(1‐ethoxycarbonylethylthio)benzothiazolium, and N‐methyl‐2‐methylthiobenzothiazolium hexafluoroantimonates] were synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding 2‐substituted benzothiazole with dimethylsulfate, followed by anion exchange with KSbF₆. These benzothiazolium salts cationically polymerized an epoxy monomer by photoirradiation. They also polymerized an acrylate monomer via a photoradical process. The use of aromatic compounds such as 2‐ethyl‐9,10‐dimethoxyanthracene as photosensitizers was effective in enhancing the polymerization. These benzothiazolium salts also served as thermal cationic initiators. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3828–3837, 2003     

Influence of the alkene structure on the mechanism and kinetics of thiol–alkene photopolymerizations with real‐time infrared spectroscopy

The effect of the chemical structure on the reactivity of alkenes used in thiol–ene photopolymerizations has been investigated with real‐time infrared spectroscopy. Model studies of thiol–ene photoreactions with various monofunctional hydrocarbon alkenes and the monofunctional thiol ethyl‐3‐mercaptopropionate have been performed to identify and understand structure–reactivity relationships. The results demonstrate that terminal enes react very rapidly with thiol, achieve complete conversion, and are independent of the aliphatic hydrocarbon substituent length. Disubstitution on a single carbon of a terminal ene significantly reduces the reactivity, whereas substitution on the carbon α to the terminal ene has a minimal influence on the reactivity. Internal trans enes display reduced reactivity and a lower overall conversion and deviate from the standard thiol–ene reaction mechanism because of steric strain induced by 1,3‐interactions. The reactivity and conversion of internal trans enes decrease as the substituents on the ene become larger, reaching a minimum when the substituent size is greater than or equal to that of propyl groups. Internal cis enes react rapidly with thiol; however, they undergo a fast isomerization–elimination reaction sequence generating the trans ene, which proceeds to react at a reduced rate with thiol. The reactivity of cyclic enes is dictated by ring strain, stereoelectronic effects, and hydrogen abstractability. The reactivity trends in the model studies have been used to explain the photopolymerization mechanism and kinetics of a series of multifunctional thiol–ene systems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6283–6298, 2004     

Photoinitiated curing of mono‐ and bifunctional epoxides by combination of active chain end and activated monomer cationic polymerization methods

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization of mono‐ and bifunctional epoxy monomers, namely cyclohexeneoxide (CHO), 4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl‐3′,4′‐epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate (EEC), respectively by using sulphonium salts in the presence of hydroxylbutyl vinyl ether (HBVE) was studied. The real‐time FTIR spectroscopic, gel content determination, and thermal characterization studies revealed that both hydroxyl and vinyl ether functionalities of HBVE take part in the polymerization. During the polymerization, HBVE has the ability to react via both active chain end (ACE) and activated monomer mechanisms through its hydroxyl and vinyl ether functionalities, respectively. Thus, more efficient curing was observed with the addition of HBVE into EEC‐containing formulations. It was also demonstrated that HBVE is effective in facilitating the photoinduced crosslinking of monofunctional epoxy monomer, CHO in the absence of a conventional crosslinker. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4914–4920, 2007     

Novel photocurable monomers: The synthesis of difunctional vinyl ethers with a phosphonate group and difunctional 1‐propenyl ethers with a phosphonate group and their photoinitiated cationic polymerization

Phosphorus‐containing vinyl ether monomers and 1‐propenyl ether monomers were prepared by the regioselective addition reaction of glycidyl vinyl ether (GVE) or 1‐propenyl glycidyl ether with diaryl phosphonates with quaternary onium salts as catalysts. The reaction of GVE with bis(4‐chlorophenyl) phenylphosphonate gave bis[1‐(4‐chlorophenoxy methyl)‐2‐(vinyloxy)ethyl]phenylphosphonate in a 68% yield. The structures of the resulting phosphorus‐containing vinyl ether monomers and 1‐propenyl ether monomers were confirmed by IR and ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analysis. Photoinitiated cationic polymerizations of the resulting phosphorus‐containing vinyl ether monomers and 1‐propenyl ether monomers were investigated with photoacid generators. The polymerization of vinyl ether groups and 1‐propenyl ether groups of the obtained monomers proceeded very smoothly with a sulfonium‐type cationic photoinitiator, bis[4‐(diphenylsulfonio)phenyl]sulfide‐bis(hexafluorophosphate), upon UV irradiation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3105–3115, 2005     

Application of S‐alkylsulfonium salts of aromatic sulfides as new thermal latent cationic initiators

The cationic initiation activity of derivatives of S‐methylsulfonium salts of dibenzothiophene ( 3a ), diphenyl sulfide ( 4a ), thioanisole ( 4d ), and tetrahydrothiophene ( 5 ) was evaluated in the polymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether ( 1 ). These initiators were soluble in 1 and capable of initiating the cationic polymerization of 1 on heating, with the exception of methyltetrahydrothiophenium tetrafluoroborate ( 5 ; in the range of room temperature to 160 °C). Among them, methyldiphenylsulfonium tetrafluoroborate ( 4a ) showed a moderate thermal latency that brought about the polymerization of 1 efficiently at 160 °C but not below 80 °C. S‐Alkylsulfonium salts of aromatic sulfides such as phenoxathiin ( 6a ) and thianthrene ( 6b ) also were evaluated for their activity in the cationic polymerization of 1 , from which the thermal latent behavior of these salts also was confirmed (i.e., there was no reaction at 60 °C for 3 h, but there was a high enough conversion at 140 °C). Furthermore, the catalytic activity of S‐alkylsulfonium derivatives was controllable by both the property of the substituents on the aromatic rings and the character of the alkyl groups on the sulfur atom. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 18–27, 2000     

New photo‐induced thiol‐ene crosslinked films based on linear methacrylate copolymer polythiols

Thiol‐ene radical addition by photolysis is a highly efficient click reaction of sufhydryl groups with reactive enes that has been extensively explored as a promising means to construct multifunctional materials. Here, photo‐induced thiol‐ene crosslinked films composed of linear methacrylate copolymer polythiols (MCPsh) are reported. Well‐defined MCPsh copolymers were prepared by thiol‐responsive cleavage of pendant disulfide linkages positioned in the corresponding methacrylate copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution which were synthesized by a controlled radical polymerization method. With a commercially available multifunctional acrylate as a model ene, photo‐induced thiol‐ene radical polyaddition of these polythiols is competitive to free‐radical homopolymerization of acrylates, yielding crosslinked films exhibiting rapid cure, uniform network, and enhanced mechanical properties; these properties are required for high performance coating materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2860–2868.     

Cationic photopolymerization of epoxynorbornane linseed oils: The effect of diluents

New epoxynorbornane linseed oils (ENLOs) were prepared as a function of the norbornene content. The cationic photopolymerization of ENLOs was investigated with real‐time infrared spectroscopy and photo‐differential scanning calorimetry. The effects of reactive and nonreactive diluents on the polymerization rate were also studied. The diluents reduced the viscosity of the formulations, markedly accelerated the rate of polymerization of ENLOs, and increased their final conversions. The effects of the reactive diluent were compared for ENLOs and epoxidized linseed oil. The relative reactivity of the oxiranes was not as important as the viscosity of the reacting system, and it was proposed that the cationic photopolymerization of ENLOs was controlled by diffusion. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3440–3456, 2003     

Dual photo‐ and thermally initiated cationic polymerization of epoxy monomers

Selective inhibition of the photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerization of epoxides by dialkyl sulfides has provided dual systems that can be “activated” by UV irradiation and then subsequently be polymerized by the application of heat. It is proposed that dialkyl sulfides terminate the initial or growing polyether chains at an early stage to form stable trialkylsulfonium salts. These systems are dormant at room temperature but on thermolysis, the sulfonium salts are capable of reinitiating ring‐opening polymerization. These dual photo‐ and thermal cure systems have potential applications in adhesives, potting resins, and composites. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6750–6764, 2006     

Iodonium‐polyoxometalate and thianthrenium‐polyoxometalate as new one‐component UV photoinitiators for radical and cationic polymerization

Four novel onium salts (onium‐polyoxometalate) have been synthesized and characterized. They contain a diphenyliodonium or a thianthrenium (TH) moiety and a polyoxomolybdate or a polyoxotungstate as new counter anions. Outstandingly, these counter anions are photochemically active and can sensitize the decomposition of the iodonium or TH moiety through an intramolecular electron transfer. The phenyl radicals generated upon UV light irradiation (Xe–Hg lamp) are very efficient to initiate the radical polymerization of acrylates. Cations are also generated for the cationic polymerization of epoxides. Remarkably, these novel iodonium and TH salts are characterized by a higher reactivity compared with that of the diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate and the commercial TH salt, respectively. Interpenetrating polymer networks can also be obtained under air through a concomitant cationic/radical photopolymerization of an epoxy/acrylate blend (monomer conversions > 65%). The photochemical mechanisms are studied by steady‐state photolysis, cyclic voltammetry, and electron spin resonance techniques. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 981–989