Radical and cationic photopolymerization: New pyrylium and thiopyrylium salt-based photoinitiating systems

Triplet state (anti)aromaticity of some monoheterocyclic analogues of benzene, naphthalene and anthracene

By employing DFT calculations, we show the influence of heteroatom substitution on the triplet state (anti)aromaticity of benzene, naphthalene and anthracene.

Electro-Controlled Living Cationic Polymerization

Cationic polymerizations have long been industrialized; however, stimulus-regulated cationic polymerization remains to be developed. An electrochemically controlled living cationic polymerization is presented for the first time. In the presence of external potential and organic-based electrocatalyst, a series of monomers can be polymerized under a cationic chain-transfer mechanism. The resulting polymers exhibit well-defined molecular mass, narrow dispersity, and good chain-end fidelity. By controlling the external potential to switch the electrocatalyst between its oxidized and reduced states, ON/OFF polymerization can be achieved. This method is a versatile way to a large range of monomers, including vinyl ether-type and p-substituted styrene-type monomers. Given the sustainability feature and broad interest of electrochemical synthetic techniques, we envisaged that this method would lead a new direction of external regulated living ionic polymerization.

Mechanistic Insight into the Photocontrolled Cationic Polymerization of Vinyl Ethers

The mechanism of the recently reported photocontrolled cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers was investigated using a variety of catalysts and chain-transfer agents (CTAs) as well as diverse spectroscopic and electrochemical analytical techniques. Our study revealed a complex activation step characterized by one-electron oxidation of the CTA. This oxidation is followed by mesolytic cleavage of the resulting radical cation species, which leads to the generation of a reactive cation-this species initiates the polymerization of the vinyl ether monomer-and a dithiocarbamate radical that is likely in equilibrium with the corresponding thiuram disulfide dimer. Reversible addition-fragmentation type degenerative chain transfer contributes to the narrow dispersities and control over chain growth observed under these conditions. Finally, the deactivation step is contingent upon the oxidation of the reduced photocatalyst by the dithiocarbamate radical concomitant with the production of a dithiocarbamate anion that caps the polymer chain end. The fine-tuning of the electronic properties and redox potentials of the photocatalyst in both the excited and the ground states is necessary to obtain a photocontrolled system rather than simply a photoinitiated system. The elucidation of the elementary steps of this process will aid the design of new catalytic systems and their real-world applications.

Versatility of Pyrylium Salt/Vinyl Ether Initiating System for Epoxide Dual-Cure Polymerization: Kick-Starting Effect of the Coinitiator

Pyrylium salts combined with vinyl ethers are shown to act as new versatile dual-cure initiating systems for both photochemical and thermal initiation of oxirane monomers. The combination of both possibilities allows the curing of thick samples through photoinduced frontal polymerization. On the basis of quantum calculations and photochemical experiments, some clues are given about the reaction mechanisms involved. Interestingly, a sequential kick-starting effect is observed in the presence of vinyl ether enabling the curing of oxetane monomers. Thereby, this communication presents a short overview of potential of pyrylium salts in cationic polymerization of oxiranes.

Lewis acid–base 1,2-addition reactions: synthesis of pyrylium borates from en-ynoate precursors

Treatment of methyl (Z)-2-alken-4-ynoates with the strong Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane, B(C₆F₅)₃, yield 2,5,6-substituted zwitterionic pyrylium borate species via an intramolecular 6-endo-dig cyclisation reaction.

Recent applications of the (TMS)3SiH radical-based reagent

This review article focuses on the recent applications of tris(trimethylsilyl)silane as a radical-based reagent in organic chemistry. Numerous examples of the successful use of (TMS)(3)SiH in radical reductions, hydrosilylation and consecutive radical reactions are given. The use of (TMS)(3)SiH allows reactions to be carried out under mild conditions with excellent yields of products and remarkable chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. The strategic role of (TMS)(3)SiH in polymerization is underlined with emphasis on the photo-induced radical polymerization of olefins and photo-promoted cationic polymerization of epoxides.

New thioxanthone and xanthone photoinitiators based on silyl radical chemistry

New cleavable photoinitiators are presented. As demonstrated here, combining the thioxanthone/xanthone (or other PI skeletons) and silyl chemistries should open up a new promising direction of research.

Recent advances in sunlight induced polymerization: role of new photoinitiating systems based on the silyl radical chemistry

Silyl radical chemistry opens new opportunities for photoinitiating systems for sunlight polymerization.

Mechanism of Cyclic Dye Regeneration During Eosin-Sensitized Photoinitiation in the Presence of Polymerization Inhibitors

A visible light photoinitiator, eosin, in combination with a tertiary amine coinitiator is found to initiate polymerization despite the presence of at least 1000-fold excess dissolved oxygen which functions as an inhibitor of radical polymerizations. Additionally, 0.4 µM eosin is able to overcome 100-fold excess (40 µM) 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) inhibitor, initiating polymerization after only a 2 minute inhibition period. In contrast, 40 µM Irgacure-2959, a standard cleavage-type initiator, is unable to overcome even an equivalent amount of inhibitor (40 µM TEMPO). Through additional comparisons of these two initiation systems, a reaction mechanism is developed which is consistent with the kinetic data and provides an explanation for eosin's relative insensitivity to oxygen, TEMPO and other inhibitors. A cyclic mechanism is proposed in which semi-reduced eosin radicals react by disproportionation with radical inhibitors and radical intermediates in the inhibition process to regenerate eosin and effectively consume inhibitor. In behavior similar to that of eosin, rose bengal, fluorescein, and riboflavin are also found to initiate polymerization despite the presence of excess TEMPO, indicating that cyclic regeneration likely enhances the photoinitiation kinetics of many dye photosensitizers. Selection of such dye initiation systems constitutes a valuable strategy for alleviating inhibitory effects in radical polymerizations.

Analysis of association constant for ground state dye-electron acceptor complex of photoinitiator systems and the association constant effect on the kinetics of visible-light-induced polymerizations

We investigated the formation of ground state donor/acceptor complexes between xanthene dyes (rose Bengal (RB) and fluorescein (FL)) and a diphenyl iodonium salt (DPI) which is dissolved in 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomer. To characterize the association constant of the complex, we have suggested a new analysis model based upon the Benesi-Hildebrand model. Because the assumption of the original Benesi-Hildebrand model is that the absorption bands are due only to the presence of the complex and that the absorption by the free component is negligible; the model cannot be applied to our systems, which is a dye-based initiator system. For each dye, the molar absorptivity of the ground state complex was evaluated as a function of wavelength and this analysis confirmed the validity of the modified Benesi-Hildebrand model. In addition, we observed the RB/DPI photoinitiator system failed to produce a perceptible polymerization rate but the FL/DPI photoinitiator system provided very high rates of polymerization. Based upon the association constant for these complexes, we concluded that the observed kinetic differences arise from the different association constant values of the ground state dye-acceptor complex, resulting in back electron transfer reaction.