Photopolymerization of cyclohexene oxide by phosphonium and arsonium salts

Phenacyltriphenyl phosphonium, phenacyltriphenyl arsonium and acyltriphenyl phosphonium salts containing the anion, SbF₆^-, are useful photoinitiators for cationic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide at 25°. Thermal polymerization using these salts was examined in dichloromethane at 50 and 70°. It was found that increases from 50 to 70° almost doubled the polymer yield. Experimental data are presented comparing the efficiency of these salts as photoinitiators or thermal initiators, the effects of photolysis duration, and initiator concentration. Irradiation of the reaction mixture was shown to be the most efficient means of polymerization using these initiators.