Thermally and Photochemically Induced Charge-Transfer Polymerizations

Polymerizations involving electron donor-acceptor interactions or charge-transfer interactions have been a topic of interest in recent years. Two classes of polymerization are the subjects of major concern in this area. One is a polymerization initiated via charge-transfer interactions involving monomers as one component, which is termed charge-transfer polymerization. The charge-transfer polymerization encompasses both thermal and photochemical processes. The other is an alternating radical copolymerization in which it is thought to be likely that a charge-transfer complex formed between monomer pairs participates as a monomer species in the propagation process of polymerization, the mechanism of which has long been a subject of controversy. Some of the alternating radical copolymerizations are initiated spontaneously via charge-transfer interactions between monomer pairs.