Benzoin ether, as photoinitiator

Our interest in the photochemistry of benzoin ethers was prompted by two major reasons (1) a discrepancy existed between recent mechanistic studies on the photochemistry of benzoin ethers and earlier reports on the benzoin ether photo-initiated polymerization of reactive monomers, and (2) the extensive, commercial utilization of benzoin ethers as photoinitiators in uv curable coatings and printing inks warranted further investigation of this discrepancy. 

A disadvantage of benzoin ethers as photoinitiators is their apparent instability in the presence of reactive resins, resulting in premature polymerization in dark storage. This behavior has been attributed to the presence of the benzylic H atom, which may be abstracted by adventitious free-radical species, such as peroxy radicals. ... 

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