End capped polyenic structures as visible light sensitive photoinitiators for polymerization of vinylethers

• Nine new photoinitiating systems based on new and established dyes are tested for the polymerization of cationic monomers.
• The structures proposed are very efficient for visible light polymerization.
• The chemical mechanisms associated with these novel photoinitiating systems are investigated in detail.

Nine new photoinitiating systems based on a combination of new and established dyes (having an end capped polyenic structure) with an iodonium salt have been synthesized and tested for the polymerization of divinylether and epoxy monomers upon a visible light exposure. They exhibit a strong absorption in the 350–650 nm range which well matches the visible light emission of different convenient visible light sources. Interestingly, very soft irradiation conditions can be employed. Excellent polymerization profiles have been obtained from selected dye iodonium salt combinations using a halogen amp or a laser diode à 457 nm. The chemical mechanisms associated with these novel photoinitiating systems are investigated by steady-state photolysis and ESR experiments.

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