Vinyl monomers bearing chromophore moieties and their polymers - X. Initiation and photochemical properties of p-(N,N-dimethylamino)styrene and its polymers

A vinyl monomer having an electron-donating moiety, p-(N,N-dimethylamino)st yrene (DMAS), was synthesized. It was combined with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to form a redox initiation system to initiate the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA). UV spectra measurements show that DMAS enters the PMMA chain as well. Both DMAS and its polymer P(DMAS) display strong fluorescenc e, and the fluorescence can be quenched by electron-deficient compounds suc h as methacrylonitrile, fumaronitrile and methyl methacrylate etc. Moreover , DMAS can also form charge transfer complex (CTC) with strong electron acc epters such as tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). The difference between the photoc hemical properties of DMAS and P(DMAS) were explained in terms of molecular structure change and polymer conformation effect in solution. In addition, the CTC and exciplex formation of DMAS or P(DMAS) with C-60 were also stud ied.