Photoinitiation of Acrylate Polymerization with (Arene)chromium Complexes

Abstract

Abstract Photoinitiation of acrylate polymerization by [Cr(η 6 ‐arene)(CO) 3 ] complexes in the presence of an organic chloro compound was investigated. For the bimolecular system, a good correlation between activity and metal–arene and metal–carbonyl bond strength was observed. The highest efficiency was found for an initiator in which the organic chloro compound was tethered to the complexed arene: [Cr(η 6 ‐C 6 H 5 CH 2 OCOCCl 3 )(CO) 3 ]. The initial steps of the photoinitiation were probed and provided evidence for metal–arene bond cleavage in an Cr(η 2 ‐acrylate)(η 6 ‐arene)(CO) 2 complex. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)