Photoinitiated polymerization of ethyl cyanoacrylate by phosphonium salts

Abstract

The photoinitiated polymerization of ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) by benzyl triphenylphosphonium hexafluoroantimonate (BP+) and (anthracen-9-ylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium hexafluoroantimonate (MAP(+)) was studied. Zwitterionic and free radical mechanisms which involved homolytic and heterolytic decomposition of the phosphonium salts are discussed. The anthracene-sensitized photopolymerization of ECA was also demonstrated.