New photoinitiating systems for cationic polymerization acting at near UV and visible range

New photoiniting systems for cationic polymerization acting at near UV and visible range are described. The applicability of acylgermanes as a new class of free radical promoters for photoinitiated cationic polymerization is demonstrated. Moreover, the use of substituted vinyl halides as source for readily oxidizable free radicals is presented. The polymerization of vinyl ethers can be initiated by the irradiation of substituted vinyl halides in the presence of Lewis acids such as zinc halide. Furthermore, possibilities for conducting cationic polymerization at visible range by using highly conjugated thiophene derivatives are demonstrated. Mechanistic aspects of all initiating systems are discussed.