Photopolymerization initiated by carbonyl compounds. VII. Solvent effects on biacetyl photoinitiation

Biacetyl is solvated by methanol or water giving an α-substituted alkanone. Irradiation of the solvated species at 300 nm in the presence of vinyl acetate or vinyl pyrrolidone, produces a significant amount of polymer. The photoprocesses leading to active free radicals are considered to be a type I photocleavage of the α-substituted alkanone.