Photoinitiated polymerization of aryl cyclic sulfonium salts

Polymers are produced by direct photolysis of substituted aryl cyclic sulfo nium Zwitterionic salts in solution or film. Analysis of zwitterionic monom ers via C-13 NMR, UV, and IR spectroscopy as well as X-ray diffraction clea rly identifies the structures taking part, in the photoinduced polymerizati on in the solid crystalline films. The protonated form of the zwitterionic monomers, however, fails to produce detectable amounts of polymer upon phot olysis under any conditions. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.