Redox initiators for cationic polymerization: The diaryliodonium Salt/Sn(II) redox couple

Abstract

Abstract Diaryliodonium salts undergo facile copper catalyzed reduction in the presence of Sn(II) compounds. Such redox couples can be employed for the in situ generation of active initiators for cationic vinyl and ring opening polymerizations. Two mechanisms are proposed for the reduction reaction to explain the stoichiometry of the reactants and nature of the products formed. The polymerizations of several representative cationically polymerizable monomers were studied.