Transient Spectroscopy of 5,7‐diiodo‐3‐butoxy‐6‐fluorone (DIBF)

DIBF (5,7‐diiodo‐3‐butoxy‐6‐fluorone) is a visible light photosensitizer for diaryliodonium salts, the latter being used in cationic photopolymerizations. Although photopolymerization of cycloaliphatic epoxide resins can be initiated by direct excitation of UV‐absorbing diaryliodonium salts, such as (p‐octyloxy)phenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate (OPPI), the short wavelengths required cause some practical problems. Sensitizers, of which DIBF is among the best, obviate the deep UV problem by allowing visible‐wavelength activation of the photoinitiator. Addition of 9,10‐diethoxyanthracene (AN 910 E) dramatically accelerates photopolymerization under visible irradiation of the DIBF/OPPI system. We report herein the transient spectroscopy of the photosensitizer DIBF and discuss likely mechanisms for sensitization of OPPI.