6-Benzoyl-1,3-benzodioxolane as a photoinitiator for free radical polymerization

6-Benzoyl-1,3-benzodioxolane (BBDO), a hydrogen abstraction type photoinitiator for free radical polymerization, was synthesized and characterized. Its capability to act as an initiator for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St) and multifunctional monomers in the presence of air was examined. Relative photopolymerization efficiencies of BBDO, benzophenone (BP), and their combination with an amine synergist such as ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDAB) are compared. UV–vis, FT-IR, 13C NMR and polymerization studies revealed that the postulated mechanism is based on the intermolecular reaction. In contrast to BP-based photoinitiators, BBDO does not require an additional hydrogen donor for initiation.