Photoinitiated polymerization of β-cyclodextrin/methyl methacrylate host/guest complex in the presence of water soluble photoinitiator, thioxanthone-catechol-O,O'-diacetic acid

Abstract

beta-Cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was used to complex the monomer, methyl methacrylate (MMA), yielding a water-soluble host/guest complex. Photoinitiated polymerization of beta-CD/MMA complex was achieved in the presence of thioxanthone-catechol-O,O'-diacetic acid (TX-Ct), a one component water soluble photoinitiator. Photodecarboxylation of TX-Ct in water seems to be an important reaction mechanism. Therefore, resulting alkyl radicals are able to initiate the polymerization of beta-CD/MMA host/guest complex in water.