Photopolymerization initiator composition and photopolymerizable composition

Abstract: A photopolymerization initiator composition comprising (A) a sulfonium organoboron complex or oxosulfonium organoboron complex of the formula (1), and (B) a sensitizer having electron donating capability and electron acceptability in an excited state, and a photopolymerizable composition which further comprises (C) an ethylenically unsaturated compound.

Description: The present invention relates to a photopolymerization initiator composition which generates free radicals when exposed to light, and a photopolymerizable composition containing the photopolymerization initiator composition and a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond which can undergo addition polymerization initiated by free radicals. More specifically, it relates to a photopolymerization initiator composition which allows a photopolymerizable compound to be polymerized for a short period of time and can be suitably used, for example, in a photo-setting ink, photo-setting paint and coating composition, photo-setting adhesive and sealing agent, photo-setting sealant and composite, a photo-setting ink jet, a photo-setting microcapsule, a photosensitive printing plate, a photoresist ink, a proofing material, an optically molding resin and a hologram material, and a photopolymerizable composition. As a photopolymerization initiator or a photopolymerization initiator composition, a variety of materials and compositions are known, and their specific examples are described in many books such as "Ultraviolet Light Curing System" (KATO Kiyomi, Sogo Gijutsu (General Technology) Center, 1988) or "The Latest Version - UV Curing Technology" (Gijutsu Joho (Technical Information) Association, 1991). Included in these photopolymerization initiators or photopolymerization initiator compositions are, for example, photopolymerization initiators which generate free radical by intramolecular bond cleavage such as chloroacetophenone, diethoxyacetophenone, hydroxyacetophenone, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, α-aminoacetophenone, benzoyl butyl ether, benzyl dimethyl ketal and acylphosphine oxide and an intermolecular hydrogen-withdrawing type photopolymerization initiator compositions containing a ketone or quinone-based compound and a hydrogen donor. A photopolymerizable composition which can can be polymerized when exposed to light can be obtained by combining at least one of the above known photopolymerization initiators and free radical-polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond. However, when free radical is derived from intramolecular bond cleavage, the photopolymerization initiator is deactivated due to the recombination of generated free radical, so that the radical generation efficiency decreases. The intermolecular hydrogen-withdrawing type photopolymerization initiator composition has a problem in that the reaction rate is a diffusion rate regulator due to a reaction between two molecules, so that the photopolymerization rate decreases in a medium having a high viscosity. It is therefore desired to develop a photopolymerization initiator which has further improved sensitivity characteristic for increasing the curing rate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photopolymerization initiator composition which is almost free from deactivation and can give a photopolymerizable composition which is almost free from a decrease in the photopolymerization rate in a medium having a high viscosity and shows a high curing rate. According to the present invention, there is provided, a photopolymerization initiator composition comprising (A) a sulfonium organoboron complex or oxosulfonium organoboron complex of the formula (1), wherein R 1 is benzyl, substituted benzyl, phenacyl, substituted phenacyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, alkenyl or substituted alkenyl, each of R 2 and R 3 is independently benzyl, substituted benzyl, phenacyl, substituted phenacyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alicyclic, substituted alicyclic, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, amino, substituted amino, arylthio or substituted arylthio, or R 2 and R 3 bond to each other to form a cyclic structure, R 4 is oxygen or a lone pair, and each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is independently alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, alkenyl or substituted alkenyl, provided that not all of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are aryl or substituted aryl, and (B) a benzophenone derivative having electron donating capability and electron acceptability in an excited state. According to the present invention, further, there is provided a photopolymerizable composition containing the above photopolymerization initiator composition and (c) at least one compound chosen from styrene, an epoxy compound, a vinyl ether compound, spiroorthoester and spiroorthocarbonate. The present inventors have made diligent studies for achieving the above objects, and have arrived at the present invention. The photopolymerization initiator composition provided by the present invention makes a photopolymerizable compound undergo polymerization and can be suitably used in a photo-setting ink, photo-setting paint and coating composition, photo-setting adhesive and sealing agent, photo-setting sealant and composite, a photo-setting ink jet, a photo-setting microcapsule, a photosensitive printing plate, a photoresist ink, a proofing material, an optically molding resin and a hologram material. In the sulfonium organoboron complex or oxosulfonium organoboron complex (A) used in the present invention, the sulfonium cation portion thereof has electron-accepting properties, and the organoboron anion portion has electron-donating properties due to its molecular properties. The sulfonium organoboron complex or the oxosulfonium organoboron complex is decomposed by a redox reaction based on the donation and reception of electron, and free radicals are generated from these two portions. When the sensitizer (B) having both the electron donating capability and electron acceptability in an excited state is co-used, the generation of free radical by an electron donating reaction and the generation of free radical by an electron accepting reaction take place concurrently when the photopolymerization initiator composition is exposed to light, and as a result, the photopolymerization initiator composition can work as an excellent photopolymerization initiator. This is a concept which no prior art has had, and can be accomplished by the present invention for the first time. The sulfonium organoboron complex of the formula (1) can be synthesized by the method disclosed in JP-A-5-213861 and JP-A-5-255347. In the formula (1), R 1 is benzyl, substituted benzyl, phenacyl, substituted phenacyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, alkenyl or substituted alkenyl. The substituted benzyl includes p-cyanobenzyl, p-nitrobenzyl, p-chlorobenzyl, p-hydroxybenzyl, p-methylbenzyl, p-methoxybenzyl, p-dimethylaminobenzyl and 1- or 2-naphthylmethylene. The substituted phenacyl includes p-cyanophenacyl, p-nitrophenacyl, p-chlorophenacyl, p-hydroxyphenacyl, p-methylphenacyl and p-dimethylaminophenacyl. The aryloxy or substituted aryloxy includes p-cyanophenoxy, p-nitrophenoxy, p-chlorophenoxy, phenoxy, p-tolyloxy, p-methoxyphenoxy and p-dimethylaminophenoxy. The alkenyl or substituted alkenyl includes vinyl, 1-propenyl, 1-butenyl and 3,3-dicyano-1-propenyl. Each of R 2 and R 3 is independently benzyl, substituted benzyl, phenacyl, substituted phenacyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl , aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, an alicyclic group, a substituted alicyclic group, an alkoxy group, a substituted alkoxy group, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, amino, substituted amino, arylthio or substituted arylthio, or R 2 and R 3 bond to each other to form a cyclic structure. The substituted benzyl, the substituted phenacyl, the aryloxy or substituted aryloxy and the alkenyl or substituted alkenyl include those specified concerning R 1 . The alkyl or substituted alkyl includes methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, allyl, salicylic, acetonyl, cyanomethyl, chloromethyl, bromomethyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl, menthyl and pinanyl. The aryl or substituted aryl includes phenyl, p-tolyl, xylyl, mesityl, cumenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, biphenylyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenathryl, p-cyanophenyl, p-nitrophenyl, 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, p-fluorophenyl, p-chlorophenyl, p-dimetylaminophenyl and p-phenylthiopheny. The alkynyl or substituted alkynyl includes ethynyl, 2-tert-butylethynyl and 2-phenylethynyl. The alicyclic or substituted alicyclic group includes cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl, bornyl and 1-cyclohexenyl. The alkoxy or substituted alkoxy group includes methoxy, ethoxy, n- or isopropoxy, n-, sec- or tert-butoxy, benzyloxy, p-cyanobenzyloxy, p-chlorobenzyloxy, p-nitrobenzyloxy, p-methylbenzyloxy and p-methoxybenzyloxy. The alkylthio or substituted alkylthio includes methylthio, ethylthio and butylthio. The substituted amino includes methylamino, dimethylamino, diethylamino, cyclohexylamino, anilino, piperidino and morpholino. The arylthio or substituted arylthio includes phenylthio, p-tolylthio and p-cyanophenylthio. Further, examples of the cyclic structure formed when R 2 and R 3 bond to each other include cyclic structures of an optionally substituted alkylene group such as tetramethylene, pentamethylene and 1,4-dichlorotetramethylene, ethylenedioxy, diethylenedioxy, adipoyl and ethylenedithio. Further, in the formula (1), each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is independently alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, alkenyl or substituted alkenyl, provided that not all of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are aryl or substituted aryl. The above alkyl or substituted alkyl includes methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl decyl, dodecyl, octadecyl, allyl and benzyl. The aryl or substituted aryl includes phenyl, p-tolyl, xylyl, mesityl, cumenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, naphtyl, 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, p-fluorophenyl, p-chlorophenyl and p-bromophenyl. The alkenyl or substituted alkenyl includes vinyl, 1-propenyl, 1-butenyl and 3,3-dicyano-1-propenyl. The alkynyl or substituted alkynyl includes ethynyl, 2-tert-butylethynyl and 2-phenylethynyl. The sulfonium organoboron complex or the oxosulfonium organoboron complex includes dimethyl-tert-butylsulfonium-tert-butylethyl borate, dimethylbenzylsulfonium phenyltriethyl borate, dimethyl(p-chlorobenzyl)sulfonium methyltriphenyl borate, dibutyl(p-bromobenzyl)sulfonium isopropyltriphenyl borate, dimethyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium butyltriphenylborate, dimethylphenacylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylphenacylsulfonium sec-butyltriphenyl borate, di-tert-butylphenacylsulfonium sec-butyltriphenyl borate, dimethyl(p-chlorophenacyl) tert-butylphenyl borate, dimethyl(p-bromophenacyl)sulfonium benzyltriphenyl borate, dimethyl(2-phenyl-3,3-dicyanopropen-2-yl)sulfonium butyltri(p-methoxyphenyl) borate, dibutylethoxysulfonium butyltri(p-fluorophenyl) borate, dimethylphenoxysulfonium butyltri(p-chlorophenyl) borate, methyl(dimethylamino)(p-tolyl)sulfonium butyltri(p-bromophenyl) borate, dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium butyltris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] borate, dimethylphenylthiosulfonium sec-butyltri(p-methoxyphenyl) borate, methylphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium sec-butyltri(p-fluorophenyl) borate, methylphenylphenacylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, methylphenyl(2-phenyl-3,3-dicyanopropen-2-yl)sulfonium tert-butyltri(p-bromophenyl)borate, methylphenylethoxysulfonium butyltriphenyl)borate, butylphenylphenoxysulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylaminobis(p-tolyl)sulfonium sec-butyltri(p-bromophenyl) borate, tetramethylenephenacylsulfonium sec-butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylallylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylcyanomethylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylacetonylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylethoxycarbonylmethylsulfonium tert-butyltri(p-chlorophenyl) borate, dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, tetramethylene-p-cyanobenzylsulfonium sec-butyltri-p-fluorophenyl borate, dimethylbenzyloxosulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dimethylphenacyloxosulfonium sec-butyl(p-chlorophenyl) borate, methylphenylbenzyloxosulfonium tert-butyltri(p-methoxyphenyl) borate, methylphenylphenacyloxosulfonium tert-butyltri(p-fluorophenyl) borate, diphenylbenzylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, dipheyl(p-chlorobenzyl)sulfonium butyltris(p-methoxyphenyl) borate, diphenyl(p-bromobenzyl)sulfonium butyltris(p-fluorophenyl) borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)benzylsulfonium butyltris(p-bromophenyl) borate, bis(p-chlorophenyl)(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium phenyltributyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium dibutyldiphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium vinyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium sec-butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)sulfonium cyclohexyltriphenyl borate, diphenylphenacylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-chlorophenacyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-bromophenacyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-methoxyphenacyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanophenacyl)sulfonium cyclohexyltris(p-methoxyphenyl) borate, bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)phenacylsulfonium sec-butyl(p-fluorophenyl) borate, bis(p-methoxyphenyl)(p-chlorophenacyl)sulfonium dibutyldipenyl borate, bis(p-chlorophenyl) (p-bromophenacyl)sulfonium benzyltriphenyl borate, bis(p-methylphenyl)(p-methoxyphenacyl)sulfonium tert-butyltriphenyl borate, bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)(p-cyanophenacyl)sulfonium benzyl tributyl borate, diphenylallylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(2-methyl-3,3-dicyano-2-propenyl)sulfonium-2-phenylethenyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(2-phenyl-3,3-dicyano-2-propenyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl[2-phenyl-3,3-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-2-propenyl]sulfonium sec-butyltriphenyl borate, bis(p-chlorophenyl)allylsulfonium phenyltriethyl borate, bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)(2-methyl-3,3-dicyano-2-propenyl)-sulfonium di(sec-butyl)diphenyl borate, bis(p-methylphenyl)(2-phenyl-3,3-dicyano-2-propenyl)sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenylacetonylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenylcyanomethylsulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenylmethoxycarbonylmethyl-sulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenylsulfomethyl-sulfonium methyltris(p-fluorophenyl) borate, diphenyl-p-toluenesulfonylmethylsulfonium dicyclohexyldiphenyl borate, diphenyl(trimethylammoniumylmethyl)sulfonium bis(butyltriphenyl borate), diphenyl(triphenylphenacyl-phosphoniumylmethyl)sulfonium bis(bulyltriphenyl borate), diphenyl(phenyliodiniumylmethyl)sulfonium bis(butyltriphenyl borate), diphenylbenzyloxosulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)oxosulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)oxosulfonium sec-butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-cyanobenzyl)oxosulfonium cyclohexyltris(p-fluorophenyl) borate, diphenylphenacyloxosulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(p-chlorophenacyl)oxosulfonium sec-butyltris(p-fluorophenyl) borate, bis(p-tert-butylphenyl)phenacyloxosulfonium octyltris(p-fluorophenyl) borate, diphenylallyloxosulfonium butyl triphenyl borate, diphenyl(2-phenyl-3,3-dicyano-2-propenyl)oxosulfonium tert-butyltriphenyl borate, diphenylmethoxycarbonylmethyloxosulfonium butyltriphenyl borate, diphenyl(trimethyl-ammoniumylmethyl)oxosulfonium bis(butyltriphenyl borate), and diphenyl(trisphenylphenacyloxosulfoniumylmethyl)-oxosulfonium bis(butyltriphenyl borate). Typical compounds (a) to (l) of the sulfonium organoboron complex or oxosulfonium organoboron complex are as follows. The benzophenone derivative (B) having both electron donating capability and electron acceptability in an excited state, used in the present invention, will be explained below. Examples of the benzophenone derivative include benzophenone, dibenzosuberone, benzoylbenzoate, methyl benzoylbenzoate, 4-phenylbenzophenone, hydroxybenzophenone, acrylated benzophenone, 4-benzoyl-4'-methyldiphenylsulfide, 3,3'-dimethyl-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2,4-dichlorobenzophenone, 2,4'-dichlorobenzophenone, 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone, 4,4'-morpholinobenzophenone, 4,4'-dimethylaminobenzophenone, 4,4'-diethylaminobenzophenone (EAB), bis[9,9-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H,5H-benzo[i,j]quinolidinyl]methane, bis(N-ethyl-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-6-quinolyl)ketone, 3,3,4,4'- tetra(tert-butylperoxycarbonyl)benzophenone, and 4',4"-diethylisophthalone. The photopolymerization initiator composition of the present invention may be used in combination with other initiators and other sensitizers for further improving the sensitivity or adjusting the spectral properties. The "other" initiator and the "other" sensitizer which can be used as a mixture with the photopolymerization initiator composition of the present invention can be selected from initiators described in "Ultraviolet Light Curing System" (KATO Kiyomi, page 102, 1988, Sogo Gojutsu Center). Specific examples thereof include acetophenone-containing initiators such as 4-phenoxydichloroacetophenone (Sandoz, Sandoray 1000), 4-tert-butyldichloroacetophenone (AKZO, Trigonal-P2), 4-tert-butyltrichloroacetophenone (AKZO, Trigonal-P1), diethoxyacetophenone (Upjohn, DEAP), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one (Merck, Darocure 1173), 1-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one (Merck, Darocure 1116), 1-(4-dodecylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one (Merck, Darocure 953), 4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-phenyl-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)ketone (Merck, Darocure 2959), 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (Ciba Geigy, Irgacure 184) and 2-methyl,-1-[4-(methylthio)-phenyl]-2-morpholinopropane-1 (Ciba Geigy, Irgacure 907), benzoin-containing initiators such as benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, benzoin isobutyl ether and benzyl dimethyl ketal (Ciba Geigy, Irgacure 651), and ketone-containing initiators such as α-acyloxime ester, methylphenylglycoxylate, benzil, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, camphorquinone, dibenzosubenone, 2-ethylanthraquinone and 4',4"-diethylisophthalophenone. Further, the "other" initiator includes imidazole-containing initiators such as 2,2'-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenyl-1,2'-imidazole (Esprit, BCIM), carbazole-containing initiators such as A-Cure (Asahi Denka Kogyo K.K.), and acylphosphine oxide-containing initiators such as 2,4,6-trimethylbenozyldiphenylphosphine oxide. The photopolymerizable composition of the present invention contains the above photopolymerization initiator composition and (C) at least one compound chosen from styrene, an epoxy compound, a vinyl ether compound, spiroorthoester and spiroorthocarbonate. In particular, epoxy compounds and vinyl ether compounds are preferred in the present invention. Specific examples of the epoxy compounds include aromatic epoxy monomers such as phenyl glycidyl ether, o-cresyl glycidyl ether, tert-butylphenyl glycidyl ether, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, tetrabromobisphenol A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, tetrabromobisphenol F diglycidyl ether, diglycidyl resorcinol ether, 2-phenylethylene oxide, diglycidyl isophthalate and an ESP-300 (supplied by Shin-Nittetsu Chemical), aromatic epoxy resins such as a (brominated) bisphenol A type epoxy resin, a (brominated) bisphenol F type resin, a (brominated) phenol novolak type epoxy resin and a (brominated) cresol novolak type resin, and a glycidyl ether obtained by a reaction between an adduct of a bisphenol compound with alkylene oxide (e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) and epichlorohydrin. Further, aliphatic epoxy compounds can be used, and examples thereof include alicyclic epoxy compounds such as 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate, bis(3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl)adipate, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl-5,5-spiro-3,4-epoxy)cyclohexanone-m-dioxane, bis(2,3-epoxycyclopentyl) ether and EHPE-3150 (alicyclic epoxy resin supplied by Daicel Chemical) and polyglycidyl ether monomers of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols or adducts thereof with alkylene oxides such as diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol, diglycidyl ether of 1,6-hexanediol, triglycidyl ether of glycerin, triglycidyl ether of trimethylolpropane, diglycidyl ether of polyethylene glycol, diglycidyl ether of propylene glycol, and polyglycidyl ether of polyether polyol obtained by adding at least one alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide) to an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerin. Examples of the vinyl ether compounds include monofunctional vinyl ethers such as hydroxybutyl vinyl ether (Rapi-Cure HBVE, supplied by GAF) and dodecyl vinyl ether (Rapi-Cure DDVE, supplied by GAF), and polyvinyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols such as 1,4-butanediol vinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether (Rapi-Cure DVE-3, supplied by GAF), tripropylene glycol divinyl ether, 3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol divinyl ether, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol divinyl ether and trimethylolpropane trivinyl ether. A vinyl ether compound of which the molecule has an aromatic ring or a heterocyclic ring can be also used. Examples of the vinyl ether compound include 4-vinyl ether styrene, hydroquinone divinyl ether, phenyl vinyl ether, bisphenol A divinyl ether, tetrabromobisphenol A divinyl ether, bisphenol F divinyl ether, tetrabromobisphenol F divinyl ether, phenoxyethylene vinyl ether, p-bromophenoxyethylene vinyl ether, and 2-carbazoyl vinyl ether. The above compounds having a cation photopolymerizable functional group may be used alone or in combination, and may be used together with the above compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond. The photopolymerizable composition of the present invention may contain various additives for overcoming various problems in practical use. For example, for preventing the thermal polymerization during its storage, the photopolymerizable composition may contain any one of thermal polymerization inhibitors such as p-methoxyphenol, hydroquinone, catechol, phenothiazine and cupferron. For promoting the polymerization, it may contain any one of chain transfer agents such as an amine, a thiol and a disulfide, an antifoaming agent, a leveling agent, a plasticizer, an antioxidant, a flame retardant, an antistatic agent and a halation preventer. When the compound (C) is a liquid, the photopolymerizable composition of the present invention may be prepared in the form of a solution or dispersion of the photopolymerization initiator composition in the above compound. When the compound (C) is a solid, the photopolymerizable composition may be prepared in the form of a solution or dispersion of the photopolymerizable composition in an aqueous or organic solvent. The present invention also provides a polymer obtainable by reacting a photopolymerizable composition of the invention in the presence of light energy. The above photopolymerizable composition may be applied to, printed on, or transferred to, a proper substrate, or sealed into a space between proper substrates to form a photosensitive layer. The application is preferably carried out with a spinner or a coater. The printing is preferably carried out by relief printing, lithographic printing, intaglio printing or screen printing. Further, the photopolymerizable composition may be applied to a curved surface by an immersion method, and an electrodeposition method may be also used. Then, the photosensitive layer is exposed to light energy from a light source which generates ultraviolet light, selected from a low-pressure mercury lamp, an intermediate-pressure mercury lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp, an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, a carbon arc lamp, a metal halide lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a white lamp, a tungsten lamp, various laser light sources (gas, diode or solid laser), a CRT light source and a plasma light source, whereby an intended polymer or a cured product can be obtained. It is essential that the light source be one which generates light in the absorption wavelength region of the benzophenone derivative (B) used in the present invention. When exposed to such light, the radical polymerization of the photopolymerizable composition of the present invention is initiated, and a cured product can be obtained. The irradiation with light may be carried out by any one of a direct irradiation method in which the photosensitive layer is directly exposed to light, a pattern exposure method in which it is exposed light through a mask film, a scanning irradiation method and an interference irradiation method using a laser, as required depending a purpose. Further, the exposed photosensitive layer may be post-baked at a proper temperature for the promotion of the polymerization. The temperature for the post-baking is preferably between 40 and 250°C, more preferably between 80 and 200°C. The photopolymerization initiator composition and the photopolymerizable composition of the present invention can be suitably adapted for use in the fields of a photo-setting ink, photo-setting paint and coating composition, photo-setting adhesive and sealing agent, photo-setting sealant and composite, a photo-setting ink jet, a photosetting microcapsule, a photosensitive printing plate, a photoresist ink, a proofing material, an optically molding resin and a hologram material. In the photopolymerization initiator composition of the present invention, the sulfonium organoboron complex or the oxosulfonium organoboron complex (A) and the benzophenone derivative (B) may be combined in any mixing ratio, while the amount of the benzophenone derivative (B) is preferably such an amount that the ratio of the absorbance of the composition to the wavelength of the light source does not exceed 2:1. Further, the amount of the photopolymerization initiator composition in the photopolymerizable composition is preferably 0.1 to 30 % by weight. Further, the photopolymerizable composition of the present invention may contain an oligomer and a polymer having a high molecular weight as required. The oligomer or the polymer having a high molecular weight may be one which is a reactive compound having a radical-polymerizable functional group or may be one which has no such functional group. The sulfonium organoboron complex or the oxosulfonium organoboron complex (A) used in the present invention generates free radicals by the light absorption of the benzophenone derivative (B) having both electron donating capability and electron acceptability in an excited state and the subsequent photochemical interaction between these two components. The mechanism of the above free radical generation is not clear, while it is assumed that the sulfonium or oxosulfonium organoboron complex (A) is decomposed as a result of the photochemical interaction, and free radicals are generated from both the sulfonium cation portion and the borate anion portion, which is considered to produce the high sensitivity in the radical polymerization. The present invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to Examples, in which "part" stands for "part by weight". Example 1 4 Parts of Compound (a) as a sulfonium or oxosulfonium organoboron complex, 2 parts 4,4'-diethylaminobenzophenone (EAB) as a sensitizer, 50 parts of pentaerythritol triacrylate as a free radical-polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond, and 50 parts of polymethyl methacrylate as a polymer binder were dissolved in 900 parts of methyl ethyl ketone, and the resultant solution was applied to a glass plate to form a photosensitive layer having a thickness of 2 µ m. The so-prepared photosensitive layers were exposed to 365 nm light (0.5 mW/cm 2 ) from an ultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp at 500 W through a mask film for various periods of time, and then developed with toluene at room temperature for 30 seconds. As a result, remaining cured films insoluble in toluene were obtained when the photosensitive layers were exposed for at least 1 second (0.5 mJ/cm 2 ). Examples 2 - 12 Photosensitive layers were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that Compound (a) as a sulfonium or oxosulfonium organoboron complex was replaced with Compound (b) to (1) as shown in Table 1. Then, remaining cured film were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the minimum exposure times (second) for which the remaining cured films insoluble in toluene were obtained. Comparative Examples 1 - 12 Examples 1 to 12 were repeated except that EAB was replaced with 6 parts of 2,4-diethylthioxanthone (DETXO). Table 2 shows the minimum exposure times (second) for which the remaining cured films insoluble in toluene were obtained. Comparative Examples 13 - 24 Examples 1 to 12 were repeated except that EAB was replaced with 3 parts of 2,4-trichloromethyl-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-6-triazine (Compound 1). Table 3 shows the minimun exposure times (second) for which the remaining cured films insoluble in toluene were obtained. Comparative Example Sulfonium organoboron complex Sensitizer Minimum exposure time for which remaining cured film is obtained 13 Compound (a) Compound (1) 3 14 Compound (b) Compound (1) 2 15 Compound (c) Compound (1) 5 16 Compound (d) Compound (1) 5 17 Compound (e) Compound (1) 5 18 Compound (f) Compound (1) 4 19 Compound (g) Compound (1) 3 20 Compound (h) Compound (1) 2 21 Compound (i) Compound (1) 3 22 Compound (j) Compound (1) 3 23 Compound (k) Compound (1) 3 24 Compound (l) Compound (1) 3 Comparative Example 25 Example 1 was repeated except that Compound (a) was not used. As a result, no remaining film was obtained even after the exposure was carried out for more than 1,000 seconds.

Claims: A photopolymerization initiator composition comprising (A) a sulfonium organoboron complex or oxosulfonium organoboron complex of the formula (1) wherein R 1 is benzyl, substituted benzyl, phenacyl, substituted phenacyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, alkenyl or substituted alkenyl, each of R 2 and R 3 is independently benzyl, substituted benzyl, phenacyl, substituted phenacyl, aryloxy, substituted aryloxy, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, alicyclic, substituted alicyclic, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, alkylthio, substituted alkylthio, amino, substituted amino, arylthio or substituted arylthio, or R 2 and R 3 bond to each other to form a cyclic structure, R 4 is oxygen or a lone pair, and each of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 is independently alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, substituted aralkyl, alkenyl or substituted alkenyl, provided that not all of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are aryl or substituted aryl, and (B) a benzophenone derivative having electron donating capability and electron acceptability in an excited state. A photopolymerizable composition comprising the photopolymerization initiator composition of claim 1 and (C) at least one compound chosen from styrene, an epoxy compound, a vinyl ether compound, spiroorthoester and spiroorthocarbonate. A polymer obtainable by reacting a composition according to claim 2, in the presence of light energy.

Inventors: NAKAJIMA KAORU, TANAKA YASUHIRO, TANOUE TADASHI, TOBA YASUMASA, YASUIKIE MADOKA, NAKAJIMA, KAORU, TANAKA, YASUHIRO, TANOUE, TADASHI, TOBA, YASUMASA, YASUIKIE, MADOKA, NAKAJIMA, KAORU, C/O TOYO INK MANUFACT. CO., LTD., TANAKA, YASUHIRO, C/O TOYO INK MANUFACT. CO., LTD., TANOUE, TADASHI, C/O TOYO INK MANUFACT. CO., LTD., TOBA, YASUMASA, C/O TOYO INK MANUFACT. CO., LTD., YASUIKIE, MADOKA, C/O TOYO INK MANUFACT. CO., LTD.
Applicants: TOYO INK MFG CO, TOYO INK MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: C08F2
IPC codes: C08F2, G03F7