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     

Photosensitized alkoxyamines as bicomponent radical photoinitiators

The photopolymerization ability of photosensitized alkoxyamines has been investigated. These compounds behave as interesting two‐component photoinitiators. Laser flash photolysis, electron spin resonance, and density functional theory allow to support the interactions encountered between the photosensitizer (benzophenone and isopropylthioxanthone) and the alkoxyamines (C? O bond breaking and hydrogen transfer) and the side reactions of the nitroxide radical with photosensitizer (electron transfer). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2910–2915, 2010     

Synthesis and photopolymerization kinetics of lower odor benzophenone derivative photoinitiators

Seven lower odor benzophenone (BP) derivatives (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c) based on 4‐hydroxybenzophenone(1) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, Mass, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was carried out to research the photopolymerization mechanism. The kinetics of photopolymerization was studied by differential scanning photocalorimetry (photo‐DSC). The results showed that 2a–d with uni‐BP moiety were more effective photoinitiators (PIs) than 3a–c with bi‐BP moieties, and 2c was the most effective one which could be a promising candidate for BP alternative in practical application. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient photopolymerization of thick pigmented systems using upconversion nanoparticles‐assisted photochemistry

Photopolymerization of thick pigmented systems still remains challenging due to the light screening effect of the pigments. Here, we present a facile method based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)‐assisted photochemistry to achieve efficient photopolymerization and improved curing depth of pigmented systems. Under a 980‐nm laser irradiation, UCNPs are able to convert NIR light into UV and visible light to activate photoinitiators for the initiation of polymerization. Influencing factors on photopolymerization were systematically investigated. With optimal parameters, 25.5 mm of photopolymerization depth combined with 70% of maximal double bond conversion was obtained. The peak temperature of 120.4 °C during UCNPs‐assisted photopolymerization is comparable with or lower than that of some reported frontal photopolymerization applied to prepare functional composite polymeric materials. Both indentation hardness and reduced modulus of the photocured materials using UCNPs as internal lamps were higher than those of the reference cured under traditional blue LED light. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 994–1002     

One‐component photoinitiator based on benzophenone and sesamol

A new benzodioxole derivative, 4‐(1,3‐benzodioxol‐5‐yloxy) benzophenone (BPBDO), based on benzophenone and sesamol was precisely synthesized, and it can be used as a 1‐component type II photoinitiator. Elementary analysis, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance studies revealed that the molecular structure of BPBDO consisted of both benzophenone (BP) and benzodioxole (BDO) structures. The laser flash photolysis experiments and electron spin resonance test indicated that the process of radicals generated from BPBDO after irradiation was similar to 3 processes of ethyl 4‐dimethylaminobenzoate and BP. The kinetics of photopolymerization of the photoinitiator was also studied by real‐time infrared spectroscopy. The oxygen content, light intensity, and viscosity of the monomer affected the decomposition (R_d) and polymerization rate, and the final double bond conversion was also studied. All the results suggest that BPBDO is a 1‐component photoinitiator that is an efficient photoinitiator for free radical polymerization. In contrast to typical dual‐component photoinitiators, eg, BP/ethyl 4‐dimethylaminobenzoate or BP/BDO, BPBDO does not require an additional amine coinitiator for the initiation and is applicable in nonamine resin systems.     

Elucidation of the Key Role of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ in Photocatalyzed RAFT Polymerization

Photocatalysis reactions using [Ru^II(bpy)₃]²⁺ were studied on the example of visible‐light‐sensitized reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Although both photoinduced electron‐ and energy‐transfer mechanisms are able to describe this interaction, no definitive experimental proof has been presented so far. This paper investigates the actual mechanism governing this reaction. A set of RAFT agents was selected, their redox potentials measured by cyclic voltammetry, and relaxed triplet energies calculated by quantum mechanics. Gibbs free‐energy values were calculated for both electron‐ and energy‐transfer mechanisms. Quenching rate constants were determined by laser flash photolysis. The results undoubtedly evidence the involvement of a photoinduced energy‐transfer reaction. Controlled photopolymerization experiments are discussed in the light of the primary photochemical process and photodissociation ability of RAFT agent triplet states.     

Photoinitiating behavior of benzophenone derivatives covalently bonded tertiary amine group for UV‐curing acrylate systems

A series of benzophenone derivatives (N‐BPs) containing tertiary amine group used as hydrogen abstraction‐type (type II) photoinitiators were synthesized through the addition reaction of secondary amines with 4‐(2,3‐epoxypropyloxy) benzophenone. The chemical structures were characterized with ¹H NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and UV spectrum measurements. The N‐BPs showed the higher absorption in 300–400 nm than benzophenone (BP). The photoinitiating activity was examined based on the photopolymerization of 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate using photo‐DSC method. The results showed that the photoinitiating efficiency was negatively affected by the molecular structure of alkyl group connected to the tertiary amine with the order of isopropyl (N‐BPI) < methyl (N‐BPM) < ethyl (N‐BPE) < propyl (N‐BPP). Moreover, the diethanolamine‐modified benzophenone derivative (N‐BPOH) had the highest‐photoinitiating efficiency for free radical polymerization systems among the N‐BPs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

D‐π‐a‐type oxime sulfonate photoacid generators for cationic polymerization under UV–visible LED irradiation

Four D‐π‐A‐type nonionic oxime sulfonate photoacid generators (PAGs) have been designed and synthesized for use in light‐emitting diode (LED) excitable cationic photoinitiators, in which N,N‐diphenylamino was used as electron donor with trifluoroacetophenone‐based oxime sulfonates (trifluoromethanoesulfonate and p‐toluenesulfonate) as electron acceptor and substituted fluorene and biphenyl groups as the π‐conjugated systems. PAG‐Ben‐Tol (with biphenyl and p‐toluenesulfonate) and PAG‐Flu‐Tol (with fluorene and p‐toluenesulfonate) showed high quantum yields of photoacid generation (0.33–0.50) and very good thermal stability (over 250 °C). The absorbance spectra of these PAGs were consistent with the emission spectra of commercially gained UV–visible LED light sources. The potential of these PAGs for cationic photoinitiators was tested in two cationic monomer systems. These PAGs needed low light intensity and low concentration for photopolymerization with high conversions of monomer, for example, over 80%, gained at 3.0 mW cm⁻² from 365 to 470 nm LEDs. The photochemical mechanisms of these PAGs are comprehensively investigated and discussed in detail. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1146–1154     

Novel polymeric,thio‐containing photoinitiator comprising in‐chain benzophenone and an amine coinitiator for photopolymerization

A novel thio‐containing diamine with a benzophenone structure, 4‐amino‐4′‐[4‐aminothiophenyl]benzophenone (AATBP), was synthesized. Two kinds of polymeric photoinitiators, PUPIA and PUPI, were synthesized through the polycondensation of toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate with AATBP and/or N‐methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). A macroamine, PUPA, was also synthesized for comparison. Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and gel permeation chromatography analyses confirmed the structures of all the polymers. The ultraviolet–visible spectra of PUPIA, PUPI, and AATBP were similar, and all exhibited the maximal absorption above 325 nm. The photopolymerization of two monomers with different functionalities, poly(propylene glycol)diacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate initiated by PUPIA, PUPI/MDEA, PUPI/PUPA, AATBP/MDEA, and AATBP/PUPA, was studied through differential scanning photocalorimetry. The results showed that both PUPIA and PUPI/MDEA had high photoefficiency, and their low‐molecular‐weight counterparts could hardly initiate the photopolymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 576–587, 2007     

Substituted Benzophenones as Photoinitiators

Substituted benzophenone photoinitiators were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy methods. Their absorption spectra and kinetics of the polymerization were compared to benzophenone itself. The kinetics of the photopolymerization of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol triacrylate (TMPTA) was studied by measuring the polymerization heat evolution of sample, irradiated with a laser. The influence of photoinitiator concentration and light intensity on the polymerization was also studied.     

Organic dye-based photoinitiating systems for visible-light-induced photopolymerization

Even though many organic dyes have been reported as photoinitiators/photosensitizers for free radical polymerization in the literature, the design and development of novel photoinitiating systems based on organic dyes adaptable for visible light irradiation, for example, 405 nm LED and sunlight still remains challenging. Recently, major achievements in the development of high-performance photoinitiating systems based on organic dyes as light-harvesting compounds and their uses as photoinitiators for photopolymerization under visible-light irradiation have clearly emerged, giving rise to abundant literature. In this review, an overview of the recently synthesized chromophores belonging to various families of organic dyes and used as photoinitiators of polymerization during the 2018–2021 period are presented and classified. Recent works have resulted in the development of new chromophores exhibiting remarkable visible light absorption properties and excellent photoinitiation abilities upon irradiation with LEDs and/or sunlight in free radical photopolymerization processes. These developments notably indicate that sunlight has the advantages of being a cheap, unlimited, broad emission spectrum, and energy-saving light source capable to be an efficient substitute to artificial light sources. The newly developed dye-based photoinitiating systems designed to initiate visible-light-induced photopolymerization processes are likely to expand the scope of application of photopolymerization in modern sciences and technologies.     

Bifunctional co-initiators: A new strategy for the design of efficient systems in radical photopolymerization reactions under air

Bifunctional co-initiators containing amine and silane groups (silylamines) are proposed for radical photopolymerization in experimental conditions (e.g. low light intensity, low viscosity thin samples, UV and visible light exposure) where a strong deleterious oxygen effect occurs. In the presence of benzophenone, isopropylthioxanthone, camphorquinone, 2,6-diphenyl-4-(4′-dimethylaminophenyl) thiopyrylium tetrafluoroborate, chloro-HABI and cleavable photoinitiators, these compounds show a high reactivity under air, even better than that observed for a reference amine as a hydrogen donor. The associated mechanisms are investigated by laser flash photolysis (LFP) and Kinetic ESR.     

Hyperbranched poly(ether amine)(hPEA)as novel backbone for amphiphilic one-component type-Ⅱ polymeric photoinitiators

A series of amphiphilic polymeric photoinitiators with hyperbranched poly(ether amine) (hPEA) as novel backbone were developed, which can initiate photopolymerization of water-soluble and hydrophobic monomers very efficiency and might have great potential applications in the field of photo-curing.     

Kinetic pathway investigations of three‐component photoinitiator systems for visible‐light activated free radical polymerizations

Three‐component photoinitiator systems generally include a light‐absorbing photosensitizer (PS), an electron donor, and an electron acceptor. To investigate the key factors involved with visible‐light activated free radical polymerizations involving three‐component photoinitiators and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, we used thermodynamic feasibility and kinetic considerations to study photopolymerizations initiated with either rose bengal or fluorescein as the PS. The Rehm–Weller equation was used to verify the thermodynamic feasibility for the photo‐induced electron transfer reaction. It was concluded that key kinetic factors for efficient visible‐light activated initiation process are summarized in two ways: (1) to retard back electron transfer and recombination reaction steps and (2) to use a secondary reaction step for consuming dye‐based radical and regenerating the original PS (dye). Using the thermodynamic feasibility and kinetic data, we suggest three different kinetic mechanisms, which are (i) photo‐reducible series mechanism, (ii) photo‐oxidizable series mechanism, and (iii) parallel‐series mechanism. Because the photo‐oxidizable series mechanisms most efficiently allow the key kinetic factors, this kinetic pathway showed the highest conversion and rate of polymerization. The kinetic data measured by near‐IR and photo‐differential scanning calorimeter verified that the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism provides the most efficient kinetic pathway in the visible‐light activated free radical polymerizations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 887–898, 2009     

Photoinitiators with functional groups. VI. Chemically bound sensitizers

Several benzophenone‐ and thioxanthone‐based photosensitizers (PSs) were covalently bonded to hydroxyalkylphenone‐ and aminoalkylphenone‐based photoinitiators (PIs) to enhance the rate of the excitation‐transfer effect due to the close vicinity of the PS to the PI. The properties of these new systems were investigated with UV spectroscopy and photo‐differential scanning calorimetry. Broadband irradiation experiments and selective excitation of the PS were carried out for the physical mixtures and covalently bonded PI/PS combinations to investigate the effect of excitation transfer. Selective excitation of the PS chromophore revealed that the energy transfer was significantly increased in covalently bonded initiators in comparison with the physical mixtures. This effect was most pronounced for the hydroxyalkylphenones that were sensitized by suitable benzophenone derivatives, especially at low PI concentrations. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2285–2301, 2004     

Oxygen scavengers and sensitizers for reduced oxygen inhibition in radical photopolymerization

Oxygen inhibition in the free‐radical photopolymerization of (meth)acrylates is one of the most challenging problems in thin film application. Apart from the utilization of an inert gas atmosphere, additives reducing oxygen inhibition due to production of new propagating centers are used. In the present study, a more straightforward approach to reduce oxygen inhibition by photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen and subsequent scavenging of these species by selective singlet oxygen trappers was investigated. The potential of 1,2‐dions conventionally used as type‐II photoinitiators for visible light polymerization to function as singlet oxygen generators was verified in sensitized steady state photooxidation experiments in solution. A set of furan and anthracene derivatives were tested as oxygen scavengers and their corresponding relative reaction rates were determined. The ability of these sensitizer/scavenger systems to reduce oxygen inhibition in practical applications was studied in photo‐DSC‐experiments. In thin film polymerization (investigated by ATR‐FTIR), the formation of insufficiently cured surfaces could be prevented by the usage of singlet oxygen trappers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6916–6927, 2008     

Novel polymeric photoinitiators comprising of side-chain benzophenone and coinitiator amine: Photochemical and photopolymerization behaviors

Three kinds of macrophotoinitiators, PBP-P, PBP-E and PBP-B, were synthesized by step-polymerization of benzophenone and different coinitiator amino monomers. The low molecular weight analogue, 2,4-di(3-(diethyl amino)-2-hydroxypropoxy)-benzophenone (DAHBP), was also synthesized as a low molecular weight model compound. The UV-vis spectra of PBP-P, PBP-E, PBP-B and DAHBP are similar with large red-shifted maximum absorption comparing with BP. ESR spectra of PBP-P and DAHBP possess the same initiation mechanism with DEBP/TEA systems. The photopolymerization of two monomers with different functionality poly(propylene glycol)diacrylate (PPGDA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), initiated by macrophotoinitiators and low molecular weight analogs, was studied through photo-DSC. The results show that different efficiency of photoinitiators towards monomers: first, polymeric photoinitiators are more efficient than low molecular weight analogs; then PBP-E is the most efficient for PPGDA; lastly, PBP-B is the most efficient for TMPTA. The efficiency of the photopolymerization is mainly affected by structure of amine in macrophotoinitiator.     

Cationic photopolymerization with the aid of pyridinium‐type salts

Pyridinium‐type salts containing an N‐ethoxy group belong to the family of onium salts and are photoinitiators appropriate for the polymerization of monomers such as oxiranes and vinyl ethers which are not polymerizable by a free radical mechanism. The initiation is accomplished by direct or indirect (sensitized) photolysis of the onium ion, with the former being restricted to the wavelength range of self absorption, the latter being applicable at wavelengths of visible light. An additionally useful tool, namely free radical‐mediated generation of initiating species enlarges the versatility of pyridinium salts as photoinitiators. In this connection, the oxidation of free radicals by pyridinium‐type ions and the free radical‐induced fragmentation of alkoxy pyridinium ions are addressed in this article. Moreover, an interesting application is noted concerning the synthesis of novel block copolymers with the aid of the onium salt‐based photopolymerization technique.     

Effect of cyclic acetals structure on efficiency of photoinitiation

Cyclic acetals were proposed as free radical polymerization photoinitiators or co‐initiators. The photopolymerization kinetics was recorded by real‐time infrared spectroscopy (RTIR). 2‐proply‐1,3‐benzodioxole (PBDO) and 2‐hexyl‐1,3‐benzodioxole (HBDO) were efficient photoinitiators for the polymerization of 1,6‐hexanedioldiacrylate (HDDA). Polymerization occurred at the highest rate with 1,3‐benzodioxolane (BDO) as a co‐initiator. When 1.82 wt % benzophenone (BP) was used as a photoinitiator, the addition of PBDO increased the rate of polymerization (R_p) and the final double bond conversion (DC_f) of HDDA, and an optimum cure rate (0.982 min^?1) was obtained at 1.64 wt % of PBDO. Combination of p‐chlorobenzophenone (CBP) and PBDO had the highest initiating reactivity. Cyclic acetals were inefficient co‐initiators for isopropylthioxanthone (ITX). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bis‐substituted thiophene‐containing oxime sulfonates photoacid generators for cationic polymerization under UV–visible LED irradiation

Three novel types of thiophene‐containing oxime sulfonates with a big π‐conjugated system were reported as non‐ionic photoacid generators. The irradiation of the newly synthesized photoacid generators using near UV–visible light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) (365–475 nm) results in the cleavage of two weak N O bonds in single molecules, which lead to the generation of different sulfonic acids in good quantum and chemical yields. The mechanism for the N O bond cleavage for acid generation was supported by the UV–visible spectra and real‐time ¹H NMR spectra. They are developed as high‐performance photoinitiators without any additives for the cationic polymerization of epoxide and vinyl ether upon exposure to near‐UV and visible LEDs (365–475 nm) at low concentration. In the field of photopolymerization, especially visible light polymerization, it has great potential for application. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 776–782