Polymerization charge transfer

A substantial number of photo-induced charge transfer polymerizations have been known to proceed through N-vinylcarbazole (VCZ) as an electron-donor monomer, but much less attention was paid to the polymerization of acrylic monomer as an electron receptor in the presence of amine as donor. The photo-induced charge-transfer polymerization of electron-attracting monomers, such as methyl acrylate(MA) and acrylonitrile (AN), have been recently studied [4]. In this paper, some results of our research on the reaction mechanism of vinyl polymerization with amine in redox and photo-induced charge transfer initiation systems are reviewed. 

III. PHOTO-INDUCED CHARGE TRANSFER POLYMERIZATION OF VINYL MONOMERS... 

The second section focuses on emerging classes of photopolymerizations that are being developed as alternatives to acrylates. Three types of polymerization systems are included cationic photopolymerizations, initiator-free charge-transfer polymerizations, and a thiol-ene reaction system. The last section covers four interesting emerging applications of photopolymerization technology. 

The polymerization systems discussed in this article are those in which polymerizing monomer is directly involved in the electron transferring pair, which enables the production of ion-radical on monomer. At the moment we are able to induce photosensitized ionic polymerization only in limited instances. When the charge transfer polymerization is discussed, strict distinction between radical and ionic mechanisms is impossible. As shown in Fig. 2, the difference between ion and radical and that between molecule and ion-radical is only a matter of one electron. Thermal electron transfer polymerization is demonstrated for many polymerization systems. The combination of photochemistry and electron transfer polymerization is very promising and may open up a new field in photopolymers. 

Before presenting the results of photo charge transfer polymerization, photochemical processes of nonpolymerizing systems involving ionic contributions are briefly reviewed. 

The VCZ is a peculiar monomer which is very susceptible to charge transfer polymerization. The propagation mechanism of charge transfer polymerization has been the subject of discussion. 

A detailed study of intermediates by flash photolysis and by emission spectra would provide useful information on the initial mechanism of photosensitized charge transfer polymerization. 

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