Tunable Organophotocatalysts for Polymerization Reactions Under Visible Lights

Recent Developments of Versatile Photoinitiating Systems for Cationic Ring Opening Polymerization Operating at Any Wavelengths and under Low Light Intensity Sources

Photoinitiators (PI) or photoinitiating systems (PIS) usable in light induced cationic polymerization (CP) and free radical promoted cationic polymerization (FRPCP) reactions (more specifically for cationic ring opening polymerization (ROP)) together with the involved mechanisms are briefly reviewed. The recent developments of novel two- and three-component PISs for CP and FRPCP upon exposure to low intensity blue to red lights is emphasized in details. Examples of such reactions under various experimental conditions are provided.

Photopolymerization upon LEDs: new photoinitiating systems and strategies

The use of LEDs as novel and efficient light sources for the photopolymerization of various monomers (acylate, epoxy), interpenetrating polymer networks and thiols–ene, leads to the development of novel photoinitiating systems adapted for the LED emission.

Novel polymer synthesis methodologies using combinations of thermally- and photochemically-induced nitroxide mediated polymerization

The combination of thermally- and photochemically-induced polymerization using light sensitive alkoxyamines was investigated.

Amino and nitro substituted 2-amino-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-diones: as versatile photoinitiators of polymerization from violet-blue LED absorption to a panchromatic behavior

The well-designed 2-amino-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)-dione derivatives exhibit an excellent photopolymerization ability upon LEDs.

A new role of curcumin: as a multicolor photoinitiator for polymer fabrication under household UV to red LED bulbs

Curcumin can act as a multicolor photoinitiator in free radical photopolymerization under air upon exposure to household LED bulbs.

Photoredox catalysis using a new iridium complex as an efficient toolbox for radical, cationic and controlled polymerizations under soft blue to green lights

A new iridium complex (nIr) was designed and investigated as a photoinitiator catalyst for radical and cationic polymerizations upon very soft irradiation.

Metal and metal-free photocatalysts: mechanistic approach and application as photoinitiators of photopolymerization

In the present paper, the photoredox catalysis is presented as a unique approach in the field of photoinitiators of polymerization. The principal photocatalysts already reported as well as the typical oxidation and reduction agents used in both reductive or oxidative cycles are gathered. The chemical mechanisms associated with various systems are also given. As compared to classical iridium-based photocatalysts which are mainly active upon blue light irradiation, a new photocatalyst Ir(piq)2(tmd) (also known as bis(1-phenylisoquinolinato-N,C (2'))iridium(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) is also proposed as an example of green light photocatalyst (toward the long wavelength irradiation). The chemical mechanisms associated with Ir(piq)2(tmd) are investigated by ESR spin-trapping, laser flash photolysis, steady state photolysis, cyclic voltammetry and luminescence experiments.

Visible light initiating systems for photopolymerization: status, development and challenges

A review of recent advances in visible light initiating systems using free radical, cationic and hybrid photoinitiators is presented.

Panchromatic Photopolymerizable Cationic Films Using Indoline and Squaraine Dye Based Photoinitiating Systems

The photoinitiating abilities of indoline and squaraine dyes (D102 and SQ02) incorporated in multicomponent systems for the cationic polymerization of an epoxide or a vinyl ether have been investigated. The polymerizable films exhibit a panchromatic character as revealed by their photosensitivity to a halogen lamp (370-800 nm); household LED bulbs centered at 462 nm (blue), 514 nm (green), 591 nm (yellow), and 630 nm (red); and laser diodes at 457, 473, 532, and 635 nm. SQ02 is particularly efficient in the 520-700 nm range, while D102 exhibits a good efficiency in the 400-580 nm region. The radical photopolymerization of an acrylate can also be observed particularly at 635 nm or upon a halogen lamp. The photochemical mechanisms are studied by steady state photolysis, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, electron spin resonance spin trapping, and laser flash photolysis techniques.

Red-light-induced cationic photopolymerization: perylene derivatives as efficient photoinitiators

Nine different perylene derivatives are prepared and their ability to initiate, when combined with an iodonium salt (and optionally N-vinylcarbazole), a ring-opening cationic photopolymerization of epoxides under very soft halogen lamp irradiation is investigated. One of them is particularly efficient under a red laser diode exposure at 635 nm and belongs now to the very few systems available at this wavelength. The photochemical mechanisms are studied by steady-state photolysis, electron spin resonance spin trapping, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, and laser flash photolysis techniques.

A multicolor photoinitiator for cationic polymerization and interpenetrated polymer network synthesis: 2,7-di-tert-butyldimethyldihydropyrene

For polymer synthesis upon visible light, actual photoinitiator operates in a restricted part of the spectrum. As a consequence, several photoinitiators are necessary to harvest all of the emitted visible photons. Herein, 2,7-di-tert-butyldimethyldihydropyrene is used for the first time as a multicolor photoinitiator for the cationic polymerization of epoxides. Upon addition of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate and optionally N-vinylcarbazole, the originality of this approach is to allow efficient monomer conversions under various excitation light sources in the 360-650 nm wavelength range: halogen lamps, and light-emitting and laser diodes. The synthesis of an interpenetrated polymer network from an epoxide/acrylate blend using a red light at 635 nm is also feasible. The formed polymer material exhibits a photochromic character.

New core-pyrene π structure organophotocatalysts usable as highly efficient photoinitiators

Eleven di- and trifunctional compounds based on a core-pyrene π structure (Co_Py) were synthesized and investigated for the formation of free radicals. The application of two- and three-component photoinitiating systems (different Co_Pys with the addition of iodonium or sulfonium salts, alkyl halide or amine) was investigated in detail for cationic and radical photopolymerization reactions under near-UV-vis light. The proposed compounds can behave as new photocatalysts. Successful results in terms of rates of polymerization and final conversions were obtained. The strong MO coupling between the six different cores and the pyrene moiety was studied by DFT calculations. The different chemical intermediates are characterized by ESR and laser flash photolysis experiments. The mechanisms involved in the initiation step are discussed, and relationships between the core structure, the Co_Py absorption property, and the polymerization ability are tentatively proposed.