Photoinitiation by radical-cationic mechanism in the polymerization of isobutylene with lewis acids

ESR spectra of Lewis acids (VCl₄, TiCl₄, TiBr₄, SnCl₄, and AlBr₃) and their mixtures with isobutylene were investigated in a n-heptane solution in the dark and under irradiation at 400–480 nm at ?80 to ?150°C. A signal was observed only upon irradiating mixtures of VCl₄, TiCl₄, or TiBr₄ and isobutylene. The signal was identified as an isobutylene radical-cation by comparison with a simulated spectrum. A signal indicating the presence of peroxy radicals were recorded in measurements carried out in the presence of oxygen; these radicals originated from reaction of the isobutylene radical-cation with oxygen. Radical-cation initiation by visible light is indicated by the polymerization of isobutylene by VCl₄, TiCl₄, and TiBr₄ and by ESR spectra. The inhibiting effect of oxygen in photochemically initiated polymerization of isobutylene was also elucidated.