A Novel Bifunctional Addition-Fragmentation Agent for Photoinitiated Cationic Polymerization

Abstract

A novel addition-fragmentation agent (AFA), namely, 2-benzyl-2-(N,N-dimethyl-2-ethoxycarbonyl-1-propenyl) ammonium hexafluoroantimonate-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-butane-1-one, for photoinitiated cationic polymerization was synthesized and characterized. With this compound, it is possible to initiate the cationic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO), butyl vinyl ether (BVE) and N-vinylcarbazole (NVC) photochemically at λ = 380 nm. The mechanism involves the formation of radicals from the alkylphenone moiety and the addition of these radicals to the allylic site and fragmentation of the AFA.