A new anthraquinone derivative as a near UV and visible light photoinitiator for free-radical, thiol–ene and cationic polymerizations

Abstract

A new UV and visible light photoinitiator, quinizarin derivative 6,11-dimethoxy-7,10-dihydrotetracene-5,12-dione (Q4), was synthesized and characterized. Its photophysical properties were evaluated by various spectroscopic and computational methods. Q4 demonstrates excellent initiating efficiency for free-radical, thiol–ene, cationic and hybrid photopolymerizations. While free-radical and thiol–ene photopolymerizations can be initiated without any additives, the corresponding cationic and hybrid polymerizations still require oxidants such as iodonium salts.