Photochemistry of carbonyl photoinitiators. Photopolymerisation, flash photolysis and spectroscopic study

Abstract

The photochemistry of eight aromatic carbonyl based photopolymerisation initiators is examined and compared using u.v. absorption, phosphorescence, micro-second flash photolysis, steady-state photolysis and photopolymerisation rates for n-butyl methacrylate. In the latter case, conversion rates are significantly greater in the presence of a tertiary amine (diethylmethylamine). In both the presence and absence of the amine, the photofragmenting type initiators are more efficient than the hydrogen abstracting benzophenone. Benzil exhibits the most notable conversion rates from being the least efficient in the absence of the amine to the most efficient in its presence. There is no definite correlation between ε max and phosphorescence quantum yields with photopolymerisation rates, although it is significant that overall the phosphorescence quantum yields are enhanced to varying extents by the tertiary amine. End-of-pulse transient absorption spectra between 300 and 380 nm ( λ max at ∼ 340 nm) for the photo-fragmenting initiators in 2-propanol are tentatively assigned to the benzoyl radical, whereas benzophenone gives the typical ketyl radical formed via hydrogen atom abstraction at ∼ 500 nm. In the former case, transient formation is reduced by up to 50% in the presence of the tertiary amine except for benzoin and Irgacure 184. In the case of benzophenone, ketyl radical formation is enhanced significantly. All transients are strongly quenched by oxygen indicating that the triplet state is directly involved in free radical formation. Transient formation from benzil appeared to be the least affected by oxygen and this effect may well account for its high efficiency during polymerisation. Addition of the hydrogen donors benzhydrol and a secondary amine (diethylamine) enhances ketyl radical formation in the case of benzophenone in 2-propanol, confirming the mechanism of hydrogen atom abstraction. In the cases of benzil and benzoin, transient formation is not affected indicating that photofragmentation is the primary step in free radical formation. A steady-state photolysis study in ethyl acetate in the absence and presence of the hydrogen atom donors appears to support this conclusion. The application of these results in terms of current mechanisms is discussed.