The thermolysis and photochemistry of hybrid initiators for 'living' free radical polymerization

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01372-6

A new initiator potentially capable of both thermal and photochemical initiation of 'living' free radical polymerization (LFRP) has been prepared. Both of these reaction pathways have been examined and identified in terms of their products. The thermal reaction is highly dependent on the reaction conditions and displays competitive radical and ionic reactivity. In the presence of a proton source, the ionic pathway is highly favored. Photochemical activation leads predominantly to Norrish type I cleavage where the photoproducts further react by α-cleavage resulting in the formation of benzaldehyde.