Tunable Organophotocatalysts for Polymerization Reactions Under Visible Lights.

Abstract

New organic photocatalysts derived from pyrene, anthracene, naphthacene, and pentacene are presented here for the formation of free radicals through a photoredox catalysis. These OPCs can work according to an oxidative cycle in a three component system in combination with diphenyl iodonium salt and a silane or in a reductive cycle in combination with amine and alkyl halide. This OPC behavior is highlighted through an investigation of the associated excited state and redox properties. The free radicals generated are characterized by ESR or photolysis experiments. Upon household LED bulb or Xe lamp exposure, the oxidative three-component system is able to promote the ring-opening polymerization ROP of an epoxide whereas the reductive three-component system is very efficient to initiate the free radical photopolymerization FRP of an acrylate. This ability of OPCs to initiate different polymerization reactions (ROP and FRP) is clearly an outstanding property.