(DIACETOXYIODO)BENZENE AND [BIS(TRIFLUOROACETOXY)IODO]BENZENE AS PHOTOINITIATORS FOR RADICAL AND CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION

The photodecomposition products of (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (DAI) and [b is(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene (BTI) were found to be efficient init iators for the homopolymerizations of 2-(dimethylaminoethyl)methacryla te (DMAEM) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) and also the copolymerization s of DMAEM with MMA or styrene (St). A free radical mechanism was conf irmed. Copolymerization constants for DMAEM-MMA and DMAEM-St were dete rmined (r(DMAEM) = 0.35 +/- 0.08, r(MMA) = 0.57 +/- 0.08; r(DMAEM) = 0 .14 +/- 0.01, r(St) = 0.20 +/- 0.01) and are discussed. DAI and BTI ar e also cationic photoinitiators for i-butyl vinyl ether (BVE). The eff iciencies of DAI and BTI as photoinitiators for radical or cationic po lymerization depend on the properties of the solvents and monomers.