Recent advances on push–pull organic dyes as visible light photoinitiators of polymerization

Bicyclic-Ammonium-Incorporated Ylidic Nitrogen Groups for Strong π-Electron Donation in Push-Pull Benzene π-Conjugated Systems

Ylidic nitrogen-based π-electron-donating groups, (quinuclidinio)amidyl (QA) and (1-azanorbornanio)amidyl (ANA) groups, were developed to shift the absorption of push-pull benzenes toward longer wavelengths. Changing the pyrrolidinyl group to the QA or ANA group achieved a bathochromic shift of 45-100 nm in the maximum absorption wavelength, depending on the push-pull π-conjugated system investigated (p-nitrobenzene, 1,8-naphthalimide, and an azo dye).

Sumanene-carbazole conjugate with push-pull structure and its chemoreceptor application

The first-of-its-kind tetra-substituted sumanene derivative, featuring the push-pull chromophore architecture, has been successfully designed. The inclusion of both strong electron-withdrawing (CF3) and electron-donating (carbazole) moieties in this buckybowl compound has enhanced the charge transfer characteristics of the molecule. This enhancement was supported by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and emission spectra analyses along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The application of the title sumanene-carbazole push-pull chromophore as a selective recognition material for cesium cations (Cs+) was also presented. The title compound exhibited effective and selective Cs+-trapping ability, characterized by a high apparent binding constant value (at the level of 105) and a low limit of detection (0.09-0.13 μM). Owing to the tuned optical properties of the title push-pull chromophore, this study marks the first time in sumanene-tethered chemoreceptor chemistry where efficient tracking of Cs+ binding was possible with both absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. This work introduces a new approach toward tuning the structure of bowl-shaped optical chemoreceptors.

Recent Advances in Monocomponent Visible Light Photoinitiating Systems Based on Sulfonium Salts

During the last decades, multicomponent photoinitiating systems have been the focus of intense research efforts, especially for the design of visible light photoinitiating systems. Although highly reactive three-component and even four-component photoinitiating systems have been designed, the complexity to elaborate such mixtures has incited researchers to design monocomponent Type II photoinitiators. Using this approach, the photosensitizer and the radical/cation generator can be combined within a unique molecule, greatly simplifying the elaboration of the photocurable resins. In this field, sulfonium salts are remarkable photoinitiators but these structures lack absorption in the visible range. Over the years, various structural modifications have been carried out in order to redshift their absorptions in the visible region. In this work, an overview of the different sulfonium salts activable under visible light and reported to date is proposed.

Latest Advances in Highly Efficient Dye-Based Photoinitiating Systems for Radical Polymerization

Light-activated polymerization is one of the most important and powerful strategies for fabrication of various types of advanced polymer materials. Because of many advantages, such as economy, efficiency, energy saving and being environmentally friendly, etc., photopolymerization is commonly used in different fields of science and technology. Generally, the initiation of polymerization reactions requires not only light energy but also the presence of a suitable photoinitiator (PI) in the photocurable composition. In recent years, dye-based photoinitiating systems have revolutionized and conquered the global market of innovative PIs. Since then, numerous photoinitiators for radical polymerization containing different organic dyes as light absorbers have been proposed. However, despite the large number of initiators designed, this topic is still relevant today. The interest towards dye-based photoinitiating systems continues to gain in importance, which is related to the need for new initiators capable of effectively initiating chain reactions under mild conditions. In this paper we present the most important information about photoinitiated radical polymerization. We describe the main directions for the application of this technique in various areas. Attention is mainly focused on the review of high-performance radical photoinitiators containing different sensitizers. Moreover, we present our latest achievements in the field of modern dye-based photoinitiating systems for the radical polymerization of acrylates.

Synthesis and Optical Properties of a Series of Push-Pull Dyes Based on Pyrene as the Electron Donor

Fifteen push-pull dyes comprising the tetracyclic polyaromatic pyrene have been designed and synthesized. The optical properties of the fifteen dyes have been examined in twenty-two solvents of different polarities. Surprisingly, contrarily to what is classically observed for push-pull dyes of D-π-A structures, a negative solvatochromism could be found for numerous dyes. The photoluminescence and thermal properties of the dyes were also examined. Theoretical calculations were carried out to support the experimental results.

Indane-1,3-Dione: From Synthetic Strategies to Applications

Indane-1,3-dione is a versatile building block used in numerous applications ranging from biosensing, bioactivity, bioimaging to electronics or photopolymerization. In this review, an overview of the different chemical reactions enabling access to this scaffold but also to the most common derivatives of indane-1,3-dione are presented. Parallel to this, the different applications in which indane-1,3-dione-based structures have been used are also presented, evidencing the versatility of this structure.

Efficacy analysis of new copper complex for visible light (455, 530 nm) radical/cationic photopolymerization: The synergic effects and catalytic cycle

The kinetics and the conversion features of two 3-component systems (A/B/N), based on the proposed new kinetic schemes of Mokbel and Mau et al, in which a visible LED is used to excite a copper complex to its excited triplet state (G*). The coupling of G* with iodonium salt and ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDB) produces both free radical polymerization (FRP) of acrylates and the free radical promoted cationic polymerization (CP) of epoxides using various new copper complex as the initiator. Higher FRP and CP conversion can be achieved by co-additive of [B] and N, via the dual function of (i) regeneration [A], and (ii) generation of extra radicals. The interpenetrated polymer network (IPN) capable of initiating both FRP and CP in a blend of TMPTA and EPOX. The synergic effects due to CP include: (i) CP can increase viscosity limiting the diffusional oxygen replenishment; (ii) the cation also acts as a diluting agent for the IPN network, and (iii) the exothermic property of the CP. The catalytic cycle, synergic effects, and the oxygen inhibition are theoretically confirmed to support the experimental hypothesis. The measured results of Mokbel and Mau et al are well analyzed and matching the predicted features of our modeling.

Isocyanonaphthol Derivatives: Excited-State Proton Transfer and Solvatochromic Properties

Fluorescent probes that exhibit solvatochromic or excited-state proton-transfer (ESPT) properties are essential tools for the study of complex biological or chemical systems. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of a novel fluorophore that reveals both features, 5-isocyanonaphthalene-1-ol (ICOL), are reported. Various solvatochromic methods, such as Lippert−Mataga and Bilot−Kawski, together with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and time-resolved emission spectroscopy (TRES), were applied to gain insights into its excited-state behavior. To make comparisons, the octyloxy derivative of ICOL, 5-isocyano-1-(octyloxy)naphthalene (ICON), was also prepared. We found that internal charge transfer (ICT) takes place between the isocyano and −OH groups of ICOL, and we determined the values of the dipole moments for the ground and excited states of both ICOL and ICON. Furthermore, in the emission spectra of ICOL, a second band at higher wavelengths (green emission) in solvents of higher polarities (dual emission), in addition to the band present at lower wavelengths (blue emission), were observed. The extent of this dual emission increases in the order of 2-propanol < methanol < N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) < dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The presence of the dual fluorescence of ICOL in these solvents can be ascribed to ESPT. For ICOL, we also determined ground- and excited-state pKa values of 8.4 ± 0.3 and 0.9 ± 0.7, respectively, which indicates a considerable increase in acidity upon excitation. The TRES experiments showed that the excited-state lifetimes of the ICOL and ICON spanned from 10.1 ns to 5.0 ns and from 5.7 ns to 3.8 ns, respectively. In addition, we demonstrated that ICOL can be used as an effective indicator of not only the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of ionic (sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)) and nonionic surfactants (Tween 80), but also other micellar parameters, such as partition coefficients, as well as to map the microenvironments in the cavities of biomacromolecules (e.g., BSA). It is also pointed out that fluorescence quenching by pyridine can effectively be utilized for the determination of the fractions of ICOL molecules that reside at the water−micelle interface and in the interior spaces of micelles.

One-Pot Synthesis of Push–Pull Butadienes from 1,3-Diethyl-2-thiobarbituric Acid and Propargylic Alcohols

A new synthetic procedure for obtaining two previously reported donor-acceptor butadiene dyes, namely 5-(3,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)allylidene)-1,3-diethyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione and 5-(3,3-bis(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)allylidene)-1,3-diethyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, based on the InCl3-catalyzed coupling 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid with 1,1-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-yn-1-ol and 1,1-bis(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)prop-2-yn-1-ol, respectively, is presented. The reactions, which cleanly proceed in water under MW irradiation, involve the initial generation of the corresponding enals by Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of the alkynols and their subsequent Knoevenagel condensation with the 2-thiobarbituric acid derivative. By following the same approach, the novel butadiene 5-(3,3-bi([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)allylidene)-1,3-diethyl-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-dione, which was characterized by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR, IR, UV-Vis, elemental analysis and HRMS, was synthesized in 79% yield.

Recent progress in the development of highly active dyeing photoinitiators based on 1,3-bis(p-substituted phenylamino)squaraines for radical polymerization of acrylates

The photopolymerization is a very popular technique used in the production of various polymeric materials. The key role in the light induced polymerization processes plays a photoinitiator. One of the...

Efficacy Analysis of In Situ Synthesis of Nanogold via Copper/Iodonium/Amine/Gold System under a Visible Light

This article presents, for the first time, the kinetics and the general features of a photopolymerization system (under visible light), copper-complex/Iodonium/triethylamine/gold-chloride (orA/B/N/G), with initial concentrations of A0, B0, N0 and G0, based on the proposed mechanism of Tar et al. Analytic formulas were developed to explore the new features, including: (i) both free radical photopolymerization (FRP) efficacy and the production of nanogold (NG), which are proportional to the relative concentration ratios of (A0 + B0 + N0)/G0 and may be optimized for maximum efficacy; (ii) the two competing procedures of NG production and the efficacy of FRP, which can be tailored for an optimal system with nanogold in the polymer matrix; (iii) the FRP efficacy, which is contributed by three components given by the excited state of copper complex (T), and the radicals (R and S) produced by iodonium and amine, respectively; (iv) NG production, which is contributed by the coupling of T and radical (S) with gold ion; and (v) NG production, which has a transient state proportional to the light intensity and the concentration ratio A0/G0) + (N0/(K'M0), but also a steady-state independent of the light intensity.

Imidazole-Functionalized Y-Shaped Push-Pull Dye for Nerve Agent Sensing as well as a Catalyst for Their Detoxification

A Y-shaped push-pull dye (1) with N,N-dimethylanilino donors and a benzonitrile acceptor connected via an imidazole-based π-conjugated spacer was designed. It showed a dark yellow color in solution due to facile intramolecular charge-transfer interaction, but no fluorescence was detected, presumably due to the photo-induced electron transfer effect of the imidazole moiety. However, addition of nerve agents such as diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP, sarin mimic) and diethyl cyanophosphate (DCNP, Tabun mimic) resulted in a blue-colored fluorescence with fading of the native dark yellow color. Mechanistic studies indicated nucleophilic attack of imidazole at the phosphorus of DCP or DCNP, leading to the formation of a phosphorylated intermediate, which undergoes time-dependent hydrolysis (∼24 h) in aqueous medium. This process recovers the free probe (enzyme-like behavior) and releases a less-toxic organophosphate compound as the byproduct. The phosphorylated derivative of 1, formed during such interaction, shows a different electronic behavior, which reduces the extent of charge-transfer interaction as well as nonradiative decay and supports emissive properties. Considering the high sensitivity of 1 towards DCP and DCNP with LOD 35 and 42 ppb, we prepared easy test strips for on-site vapor-phase detection of nerve agents.

Lawsone Derivatives as Efficient Photopolymerizable Initiators for Free-Radical, Cationic Photopolymerizations, and Thiol-Ene Reactions

Two new photopolymerizable vinyl (2-(allyloxy) 1,4-naphthoquinone, HNQA) and epoxy (2-(oxiran-2yl methoxy) 1,4-naphthoquinone, HNQE) photoinitiators derived from lawsone were designed in this paper. These new photoinitiators can be used as one-component photoinitiating systems for the free-radical photopolymerization of acrylate bio-based monomer without the addition of any co-initiators. As highlighted by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping results, the formation of carbon-centered radicals from an intermolecular H abstraction reaction was evidenced and can act as initiating species. Interestingly, the introduction of iodonium salt (Iod) used as a co-initiator has led to (1) the cationic photopolymerization of epoxy monomer with high final conversions and (2) an increase of the rates of free-radical polymerization of the acrylate bio-based monomer; we also demonstrated the concomitant thiol–ene reaction and cationic photopolymerizations of a limonene 1,2 epoxide/thiol blend mixture with the HNQA/Iod photoinitiating system.

Ketone Number and Substitution Effect of Benzophenone Derivatives on the Free Radical Photopolymerization of Visible-Light Type-II Photoinitiators

Three novel visible-light absorbing benzophenone-based hydrogen acceptors (BPD-D, BPDM-D and BPDP-D) were designed on the basis of a donor-benzophenone-donor structural backbone. Mono or diketone units and double diphenylamine electron-donating groups in para-or meta-positions were introduced to comprehend the electronic and structural effects on free radical photopolymerization (FRPP). Such a structural change leads not only to a red-shift of the absorption maxima but strongly enhances their molar extinction coefficients compared to the commercial phototinitiators such as benzophenone (BP) and 4,4'-bis(diethylamino) benzophenone (EMK). In addition, excellent melting points and thermal decomposition temperatures were achieved for those novel compounds. Further, the photochemical reaction behavior was studied by cyclic voltammograms (CV), photolysis and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Finally, benzophenone derivatives in combination with an amine (TEA, triethylamine) as a co-initiator were prepared and initiated the FRPP of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) using a UV lamp as a light source. When used in stoichiometric amounts, the BPDP-D/TEA had the best double bond conversion efficiency among all the compounds studied, and were even superior to the reference compounds of BP/TEA and EMK/TEA. The results and conclusions could provide the fundamental rules applicable for the structural design of benzophenone derivative-based photoinitiators.

Fluorescence Assisted Capillary Electrophoresis of Glycans Enabled by the Negatively Charged Auxochromes in 1-Aminopyrenes

A compact and negatively charged acceptor group, N-(cyanamino)sulfonyl, is introduced for dye design and its influence on the absorption and emission spectra of the "push-pull" chromophores is demonstrated with 1,3,6-tris[(cyanamino)sulfonyl]-8-aminopyrene. The new sulfonamides, including O-phosphorylated (3-hydroxyazetidine)-N-sulfonyl, are negatively charged electron acceptors and auxochromes. 1-Aminopyrenes decorated with the new sulfonamides have three or six negative charges (pH ≥8), low m/z ratios, high mobilities in an electric field, and yellow to orange emission. We labeled maltodextrin oligomers by reductive amination, separated the products by electrophoresis, and demonstrated their high brightness in a commercial DNA analyzer and the distribution of the emission signal among the detection channels.

Synthesis, and the optical and electrochemical properties of a series of push–pull dyes based on the 4-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-phenylbuta-1,3-dienyl donor

A series of twelve dyes based on the 4-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-4-phenylbuta-1,3-dienyl donor were prepared with electron acceptors varying in their structures but also in their electron-withdrawing ability.

Novel Push–Pull Dyes Derived from 1H-cyclopenta[b]naphthalene-1,3(2H)-dione as Versatile Photoinitiators for Photopolymerization and Their Related Applications: 3D Printing and Fabrication of Photocomposites

A series of eleven push–pull chromophores with specific structures have been designed for the free radical polymerization of acrylates, but also for the fabrication of photocomposites and 3D-printed structures. New photoinitiating systems comprising the different push–pull dyes showed excellent photochemical reactivities at 405 nm. Notably, polymerization reactions could be initiated with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which constitute a unique opportunity to promote the free radical polymerization under mild conditions, i.e., low light intensity (e.g., sunlight) and under air. Photopolymerization is an active research field, and push–pull dyes have already been investigated for this purpose. Besides, it remains of crucial interest to investigate new reactive structures capable of efficiently initiating photopolymerization reactions. The plausible potential of these structures to act as efficient photoinitiators in vat photopolymerization (or 3D printing) and fabrication of photocomposites prompts us to select eleven new push–pull dyes to design multi-component photoinitiating systems activable with LEDs emitting at 405 nm. Precisely, a tertiary amine, i.e., ethyl dimethylaminobenzoate (EDB) used as an electron/hydrogen donor and an iodonium salt used as an electron acceptor were selected to behave as powerful co-initiators to construct three-component photoinitiating systems (PISs) with the different push–pull dyes. Among these new PISs, dye 8 and 9-based PISs could efficiently promote the free radical photopolymerization of acrylates upon exposure to a LED emitting at 405 nm also upon sunlight irradiation, highlighting their huge performance. Photoinitiating abilities could be explained on the basis of steady state photolysis experiments. Fluorescence measurements and electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping experiments were also performed to obtain a deeper insight into the chemical mechanisms supporting the polymerization reaction and determine the way the initiating species, i.e., the radicals, are observed. Finally, two investigated dye-based PISs were applied to the fabrications of photocomposites. Three-dimensional patterns with excellent spatial resolutions were generated by the laser writing technique to identify the effects of photopolymerization of acrylates both in the absence and presence of fillers (silica). Interestingly, comparison between the 3D objects fabricated by the PISs/monomer systems and the PISs/monomer/filler photocomposites indicates that the newly designed photocomposites are suitable for practical applications.

Recent Advances on Copper Complexes as Visible Light Photoinitiators and (Photo) Redox Initiators of Polymerization

Metal complexes are used in numerous chemical and photochemical processes in organic chemistry. Metal complexes have not been excluded from the interest of polymerists to convert liquid resins into solid materials. If iridium complexes have demonstrated their remarkable photochemical reactivity in polymerization, their high costs and their attested toxicities have rapidly discarded these complexes for further developments. Conversely, copper complexes are a blooming field of research in (photo) polymerization due to their low cost, easy syntheses, long-living excited state lifetimes, and their remarkable chemical and photochemical stabilities. Copper complexes can also be synthesized in solution and by mechanochemistry, paving the way towards the synthesis of photoinitiators by Green synthetic approaches. In this review, an overview of the different copper complexes reported to date is presented. Copper complexes are versatile candidates for polymerization, as these complexes are now widely used not only in photopolymerization, but also in redox and photoassisted redox polymerization processes.