INITIATOR FREE PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF AN ALIPHATIC VINYL ETHER MALEIMIDE MONOMER

The synthesis and initiator-free photopolymerization of the following aliphatic monomer, containing both a vinyl ether group (electron donor ) and a maleimide group (electron acceptor), is described: N-[5-(2-(vi nyloxy)ethyloxy carbonyl) pentyl] maleimide (1). The polymerization re action was followed with UV- and IR-measurements. It was shown that ir radiation with a high power microwave lamp, without the presence of ph otoinitiators, resulted in very fast and efficient curing. This donor- acceptor monomer was also shown to be useful as a photoinitiator for t he polymerization of acrylate monomers.