TRIS(1,10-PHENANTHROLINE)RUTHENIUM(II)-SENSITIZED AND TRIS(2,2'-BIPYRAZINE)RUTHENIUM(II)-SENSITIZED PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLAMIDE

Photopolymerization of acrylamide (AA) sensitized by tris(1,10-phenanthroline)-ruthenium(II) and tris(2,2'-bipyrazine)ruthenium(II) complexes (Ru(phen)3(2+) and Ru(bpz)3(2+)) was studied in aqueous solutions. AA was photopolymerized in the presence of both the sensitizer Ru(phen)3(2+) and an electron donor triethylamine (TEA). The photopolymerization of AA did not occur in the presence of the sensitizer Ru(bpz)3(2+) and TEA, but did in the coexistence of maleic acid as a comonomer. In these systems the Ru(II) complexes were not consumed during the polymerization. The mechanisms of photopolymerization for these systems are discussed.