Effect of temperature on the cationic photopolymerization of epoxides

The effects of temperature on the photoinitiated cationic ring-opening polymerizations of a number of different epoxide monomers were studied with the aid of a modified optical pyrometer instrument. Depending on the structures of the epoxide monomer, various behaviors were observed. The results were interpreted as due to steric and electronic features inherent in the structures of the monomers that affect the stabilization of the secondary oxonium ions, which are formed as intermediates in these polymerizations. At one extreme, cycloaliphatic epoxides such as cyclohexene oxide give highly reactive oxonium intermediates that exhibit high rates of polymerization even at subambient temperatures. At the other extreme, alkyl glycidyl ethers produce oxonium ion intermediates, which are so stable that they do not spontaneously react to form polymer at room temperature. By manipulation of the structure of the epoxide monomer, novel monomers with tailored reactivities can be prepared.