| Abstract: | Complex triarylsulfonium salts bearing the thiophenoxy chromophore have been synthesized. The effects of the position of attachment of the thiophenoxy group on the rate of photolysis and in the photoinitiated cationic polymerization of various monomers have been investigated. Other salts in which the thiophenoxy group has been oxidized to the sulfoxide and the sulfone also were prepared to examine the effects of the oxidation state of the sulfur-bearing chromophore on the efficiencies in photoinitiated cationic polymerization. All complex salts having extended conjugation not impeded through positional isomerization or blocked through oxidation of the thiophenoxy chromophore are more reactive than the corresponding triphenylsulfonium salts in cationic polymerization. |
