PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION OF AMPHIPHILIC DIOLEFINS IN MONOLAYERS AND MULTILAYERS

Photoreactive thin films were prepared from amphiphilic diolefins using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique and their photoreaction was investigated. p-Phenylenediacrylic acid (P-PDA) monoesters having long-chain alkyl ester residues were found to form stable monolayers on CdCl2/KHCO3 aqueous solution and they were transferred onto a substrate with Z-type deposition. The u.v. and fluorescence spectra of the multilayers showed that p-PDA monoester molecules are arranged side by side with the stacking of aromatic rings. The linear relationship observed between absorbance and the number of the layers supports the successful formation of multilayers. On irradiation, double bonds reacted to form cyclobutane rings and the subsequent cycloaddition led to the formation of oligomers and then polymers.