# Naphthoxy Bounded Ferrocenium Salts as Cationic Photoinitiators for Epoxy Photopolymerization

Authors: Zh. Q. Li; M. Li; G. L. Li; Y. Chen; X. N. Wang; T. Wang
Journal: International Journal of Photoenergy
 (2009)

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## Abstract

To improve the absorption and the bulk of arene ligands, two naphthoxy bounded ferrocenium salts as new cationic photoinitiators, (η6-α-naphthoxybenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate (NOFC-1) and (η6-β-naphthoxybenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate (NOFC-2), were synthesized, characterized, and studied. NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 were prepared by the reaction of nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) with naphthol and chlorobenzene-cyclopentadienyliron salt. Their activity as cationic photoinitiators was studied using real-time infrared spectroscopy. The results obtained showed that NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 are capable of photoinitiating the cationic polymerization of epoxy monomer directly on irradiation with long-wavelength UV light (365 nm). Comparative studies also demonstrated that they exhibited better efficiency than cyclopentadienyl-Fe-cymene hexafluorophosphate (I-261). When NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 were used to efficiently initiate polymerization of epoxide, both rate of polymerization and final conversion increased using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as sensitizer. DSC studies showed that NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 photoinitiators in epoxides possess good thermal stability in the absence of light.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

The increasing commercial and technical demands of cationic photopolymerization have led to an interest in the design and synthesis of optimized photopolymerization systems [1–4]. Currently, the most commonly used photoinitiators employed for photoinitiated cationic ring-opening poymerization are triarylsulfonium and diaryliodonium salts [5, 6]. The relatively poor absorptivity of these photoinitiators in the near UV range, however, limits their efficiency or light utilization for commonly available light sources (including medium-pressure Hg lamp) [7–11]. Accordingly, we have pursued efforts to prepare more photosensitive cationic photoinitiators and improve their spectral absorption characteristics.Ferrocenium salts are a different class of cationic photoinitiators [12–15]. With the absorptions caused by d-d upfield above 300 nm, they are more efficient than most sulfonium and iodonium salts when used with high-pressure Hg lamp as light source. Cyclopentadien-Fe-cymene hexafluorophosphate (I-261) produced by Ciba-Geigy Corporation is the only commercial photoinitiator of iron arene complexes. For its lower molar extinction coefficients in dichloromethane at 389 nm (ε=75 M-1·cm-1), I-261 has not been used widely. However, the absorption of iron arene complexes can be varied over a wide range by structure changes in the ligands.Compared with the low molecular analogues, the presence of bulky arene ligand can reduce the migration onto the film surface, which contribute to the synthesis of low-odor and nontoxic products [16, 17]. To improve the absorption above 300 nm and introduce a bulky substituent, two naphthoxy bounded ferrocenium salts as new cationic photoinitiators, (η6-α-naphthoxybenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate (NOFC-1) and (η6-β-naphthoxybenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate (NOFC-2), were synthesized. With real-time infrared spectroscopy, the study of the photopolymerization of epoxides using NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 as photoinitiators has been conducted. Direct comparisons of these new photoinitiators with cyclopentadienyl-Fe-cymene hexafluorophosphate (I-261) are presented. Their thermal stabilities in epoxides are also studied with DSC.


## 2. Experimental Section

### 2.1. Materials

All starting materials used in the preparation of ferrocenium salts were reagent grade and used without purification. Epoxy compound used in this work was 3, 4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3, 4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate (ERL4221) which was obtained from Tianjin Synthetic Matertial Research Institute (Tianjin, China). Figure1 summarizes the abbreviations and structures of epoxy compounds and photoinitiators used in this study.Figure 1
UV-Vis absorption spectra of NOFC-1, NOFC-2, and I-261 in CH3CN solution.


### 2.2. Synthesis of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2

(η6-Chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate was prepared through the ligand exchange reaction between one ring of ferrocene and arene according to the reference procedure [18].NOFC-1 was prepared by the reaction of (η6-chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate with α-naphthalenol according to the following procedure.(η6-Chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate (3.78 g, 0.01 mol), α-naphthalenol (2.88 g, 0.02 mol) and K2CO3 (2.76 g, 0.02 mol) were stirred in 30 mL of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in a 100 mL round bottom flask under  nitrogen atmosphere for 9 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was transferred into a 15% (v/v) HCl solution, and a granular precipitate was formed. The obtained filtrate was washed by Acetone  resulting into the  dissolution of the product. This solution was then concentrated by evaporating acetone under reduced pressure, and treated with sufficient NaPF6  in water to give complete precipitation of NOFC-1 as a yellow granular solid (Yield 85%). HNMR1 (C3D6O, TMS) δ/ppm:5.3 (s, 5H, Cp-H), 6.3–6.5 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 7.5–8.1 (m, 7H, Ar-H); IR (KBr):1220(C–O–C), 829s (-PF6); m.p:188–189°C.NOFC-2 was prepared by the reaction of (η6-chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate with β-naphthalenol in a manner similar to NOFC-1 preparation. 1H NMR (C3D6O, TMS) δ/ppm:5.3 (s, 5H, Cp-H), 6.3–6.5 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 7.5–8.1 (m, 7H, Ar-H) IR (KBr): 1250(C–O–C), 829s (PF6); m.p:180–181°C.


### 2.3. Photopolymerization Studies Using Real-Time Infrared (RTIR) Spectroscopy

The basic principle of RTIR spectroscopy consists in exposing the sample simultaneously to the UV light, which induces the polymerization, and to the infrared beam which serves to measure the monomer concentration at any given time. The resulting decrease in the IR absorption band characteristic of that monomer is monitored continuously on a transient memory recorder. Since the absorbance change is always proportional to the amount of monomer that has polymerized after a given exposure, and thus to the degree of conversion, the recorded RTIR trace actually corresponds to the conversion versus time curve.In this paper, conversion data were obtained by monitoring the decay of the epoxy groups centered at 780–810 cm-1  (CHO) during irradiation. The mixture of monomer and photoinitiator was applied between two KBr crystals and irradiated with the UV radiation with UV spot light source (Rolence-100 UV, Taiwan, China) at room temperature. The light intensity on the surface of samples was 80–85 mW/cm2, for each sample, the series RTIR runs were repeated three times.


### 2.4. Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) Studies of Thermal Stability of Ferrocenium Salts

DSC studies of the thermal stability of ferrocenium salts were carried out with a Perkin Elmer Pyris 1 differential scanning calorimeter. Measurements were carried out by heating solutions of epoxide monomer containing 1.0 w% of ferrocenium salts inN2  at a rate of 10°C/min. The onset of the exothermic polymerization of the epoxide monomer served as a probe for the practical limit of the thermal stability of the photoinitiator.


### 2.5. Instruments

The1HNMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV600 unity spectrometer operated at 600 MHz using CD3COCD3  as deuterated solvent. FTIR spectra were recorded on a Nicolet 5700 instrument (Thermo Electron Corporation, Waltham, Mass, USA). UV-Vis Absorption spectra were recorded in CH2Cl2  solution on a Hitachi U-3010 UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation,Tokyo, Japan). Light intensity was recorded by the UV light radiometer (Photoelectric Instrument Factory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China). DSC thermograms were measured using dynamic DSC analysis (Perkin-Elmer Pyris 1).


## 2.1. Materials

All starting materials used in the preparation of ferrocenium salts were reagent grade and used without purification. Epoxy compound used in this work was 3, 4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3, 4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate (ERL4221) which was obtained from Tianjin Synthetic Matertial Research Institute (Tianjin, China). Figure1 summarizes the abbreviations and structures of epoxy compounds and photoinitiators used in this study.Figure 1
UV-Vis absorption spectra of NOFC-1, NOFC-2, and I-261 in CH3CN solution.


## 2.2. Synthesis of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2

(η6-Chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate was prepared through the ligand exchange reaction between one ring of ferrocene and arene according to the reference procedure [18].NOFC-1 was prepared by the reaction of (η6-chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate with α-naphthalenol according to the following procedure.(η6-Chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate (3.78 g, 0.01 mol), α-naphthalenol (2.88 g, 0.02 mol) and K2CO3 (2.76 g, 0.02 mol) were stirred in 30 mL of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in a 100 mL round bottom flask under  nitrogen atmosphere for 9 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was transferred into a 15% (v/v) HCl solution, and a granular precipitate was formed. The obtained filtrate was washed by Acetone  resulting into the  dissolution of the product. This solution was then concentrated by evaporating acetone under reduced pressure, and treated with sufficient NaPF6  in water to give complete precipitation of NOFC-1 as a yellow granular solid (Yield 85%). HNMR1 (C3D6O, TMS) δ/ppm:5.3 (s, 5H, Cp-H), 6.3–6.5 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 7.5–8.1 (m, 7H, Ar-H); IR (KBr):1220(C–O–C), 829s (-PF6); m.p:188–189°C.NOFC-2 was prepared by the reaction of (η6-chlorobenzene) (η5-cyclopentadienyl) iron hexafluorophosphate with β-naphthalenol in a manner similar to NOFC-1 preparation. 1H NMR (C3D6O, TMS) δ/ppm:5.3 (s, 5H, Cp-H), 6.3–6.5 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 7.5–8.1 (m, 7H, Ar-H) IR (KBr): 1250(C–O–C), 829s (PF6); m.p:180–181°C.


## 2.3. Photopolymerization Studies Using Real-Time Infrared (RTIR) Spectroscopy

The basic principle of RTIR spectroscopy consists in exposing the sample simultaneously to the UV light, which induces the polymerization, and to the infrared beam which serves to measure the monomer concentration at any given time. The resulting decrease in the IR absorption band characteristic of that monomer is monitored continuously on a transient memory recorder. Since the absorbance change is always proportional to the amount of monomer that has polymerized after a given exposure, and thus to the degree of conversion, the recorded RTIR trace actually corresponds to the conversion versus time curve.In this paper, conversion data were obtained by monitoring the decay of the epoxy groups centered at 780–810 cm-1  (CHO) during irradiation. The mixture of monomer and photoinitiator was applied between two KBr crystals and irradiated with the UV radiation with UV spot light source (Rolence-100 UV, Taiwan, China) at room temperature. The light intensity on the surface of samples was 80–85 mW/cm2, for each sample, the series RTIR runs were repeated three times.


## 2.4. Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) Studies of Thermal Stability of Ferrocenium Salts

DSC studies of the thermal stability of ferrocenium salts were carried out with a Perkin Elmer Pyris 1 differential scanning calorimeter. Measurements were carried out by heating solutions of epoxide monomer containing 1.0 w% of ferrocenium salts inN2  at a rate of 10°C/min. The onset of the exothermic polymerization of the epoxide monomer served as a probe for the practical limit of the thermal stability of the photoinitiator.


## 2.5. Instruments

The1HNMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV600 unity spectrometer operated at 600 MHz using CD3COCD3  as deuterated solvent. FTIR spectra were recorded on a Nicolet 5700 instrument (Thermo Electron Corporation, Waltham, Mass, USA). UV-Vis Absorption spectra were recorded in CH2Cl2  solution on a Hitachi U-3010 UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation,Tokyo, Japan). Light intensity was recorded by the UV light radiometer (Photoelectric Instrument Factory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China). DSC thermograms were measured using dynamic DSC analysis (Perkin-Elmer Pyris 1).


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Synthesis of Ferrocenium Salt Photoinitiators

NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 were prepared by the reaction of nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) with naphthol and chlorobenzene-cyclopentadienyliron salt. Chlorobenzene-cyclopentadienyliron salt was prepared through the ligand exchange reaction between one ring of ferrocene and chlorobenzene according to the method of Nesmeyanov and coworkers [19]. It is known that metal moieties FeCp+  can effectivly activate the halobenzene ring towards nucleophilic substitution reaction with phenoxides and alkoxides [20–22]. This was accomplished through the use of a 1 : 2 molar ratio of the complex to naphthalenol, in the presence of excess K2CO3  in DMF.  The mixtures were stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for 9 hours, and the products were isolated as yellow solids in very good yield (85–91%). The synthesis of NOFC is summarized in Figure 2.Figure 2
Conversion versus irradiation time plot of epoxy monomer ERL4221 initiated by 3.0 wt% photoinitiator (I=80 mW/cm2).


### 3.2. UV-Vis Absorption Spectra of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2

UV-Vis absorption spectra of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 in CH3CN are given in Figure 1. For comparison, the absorption spectra of I-261 are also presented. These spectra were recorded at identical molar concentration (1×10-4 M or 1×10-3 M), enabling a direct comparison of absorbance.The UV-Vis absorption spectra of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 are similar to each other above 300 nm which makes them attractive as photoinitiators on irradiation with long wavelength UV light., and their absorption is stronger than that of I-261. The strongest absorption lies in the region of 200–300 nm which belongs toπ-π transition. The absorption at longer wavelength, ranging from 300 nm to 400 nm, belongs to d-d transition of iron arene complexes.


### 3.3. Photoinitiating Activity

In this investigation, RTIR spectroscopy was used to evaluate the efficiency of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 photoinitiators in the cationic polymerization of epoxy monomer ERL4221. ERL4221 is an important epoxy monomer because it is commercially available and has many applications for cationic photopolymerization.The conversion versus time plots for the polymerization of ERL4221 carried out in the presence of ferrocenium salts NOFC-1, NOFC-2, and I-261 are shown in Figure2. The results show that NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 are capable of photoinitiating the cationic polymerization of epoxy monomer directly on irradiation with long wavelength UV light.The comparative studies show that the polymerization rate of ERL4221 initiated by NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 is obviously higher than that of I-261. The final conversion yield of ERL4221 initiated by NOFC-2 is the highest. The main reason was thought to be the more absorption of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 above 350 nm than that of I-261.The photoinitiated polymerization of ERL4221 was carried out in the presence and absence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) with NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 as the photoinitiators, and the results are shown in Figures3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3, there is an obvious increase in the photopolymerization rate of ERL4221 in the presence of 3.0 wt% BPO comparing with in the absence of BPO.Conversion versus irradiation time plot of epoxy monomer ERL4221 initiated by 3.0 wt% photoinitiator with 3.0 wt% BPO as photosensitizer (I=80 mW/cm2).
(a)(b)Effect of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 concentration on the polymerization of ERL4221 (I=80 mW/cm2).
(a)(b)The photoinitiated mechanism of epoxide monomer irradiated by ferrocenium salts is shown in Figure3. With the loss of the arene ligand, an iron-based Lewis acid is generated from ferrocenium salts. Coordination of this iron-based Lewis acid with an epoxy monomer is followed by ring-opening polymerization. It was commonly recognized that the photosensitizing role of peroxide BPO is oxidizing iron cation from two valence to a higher three valence and then enhance the rate of complex formation with epoxides.The plots of conversion versus irradiation time of ERL4221 photoinitiated by NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 with different concentration are shown in Figure4. The polymerization rate and final conversion increased with increase in NOFC concentration; because the higher the photoinitiator concentration is, the more the active species are produced during irradiation resulting in the higher rate of polymerization.


### 3.4. Thermal Stability

An important property of photo-resists is the inherent thermal stability of the photoinitiator since pre- and post-exposure bakes can influence the physical state of the material. It is important because crosslinking of unexposed areas must be avoided in order to maximize the photoresist contrast. To assess this likelihood, DSC was employed to measure the onset of thermally initiated polymerization.The samples of epoxy monomer ERL4221 with 1.0 wt% ferrocenium salts were evaluated over a temperature range between 50°C and 250°C at a heating rate of 10°C/min, respectively. From Figure5 for DSC scan, these systems are stable under 160°C. However, when the temperature reaches the onset temperature, the polymerization heat can be obtained without UV irradiation in these systems, and temperature in excess of the onset temperature should be avoided when processing these materials.Figure 5
DSC scan of ERL-4221 with 1.0 wt% ferrocenium salts (heating rate  = 10°C/min static air).


## 3.1. Synthesis of Ferrocenium Salt Photoinitiators

NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 were prepared by the reaction of nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) with naphthol and chlorobenzene-cyclopentadienyliron salt. Chlorobenzene-cyclopentadienyliron salt was prepared through the ligand exchange reaction between one ring of ferrocene and chlorobenzene according to the method of Nesmeyanov and coworkers [19]. It is known that metal moieties FeCp+  can effectivly activate the halobenzene ring towards nucleophilic substitution reaction with phenoxides and alkoxides [20–22]. This was accomplished through the use of a 1 : 2 molar ratio of the complex to naphthalenol, in the presence of excess K2CO3  in DMF.  The mixtures were stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for 9 hours, and the products were isolated as yellow solids in very good yield (85–91%). The synthesis of NOFC is summarized in Figure 2.Figure 2
Conversion versus irradiation time plot of epoxy monomer ERL4221 initiated by 3.0 wt% photoinitiator (I=80 mW/cm2).


## 3.2. UV-Vis Absorption Spectra of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2

UV-Vis absorption spectra of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 in CH3CN are given in Figure 1. For comparison, the absorption spectra of I-261 are also presented. These spectra were recorded at identical molar concentration (1×10-4 M or 1×10-3 M), enabling a direct comparison of absorbance.The UV-Vis absorption spectra of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 are similar to each other above 300 nm which makes them attractive as photoinitiators on irradiation with long wavelength UV light., and their absorption is stronger than that of I-261. The strongest absorption lies in the region of 200–300 nm which belongs toπ-π transition. The absorption at longer wavelength, ranging from 300 nm to 400 nm, belongs to d-d transition of iron arene complexes.


## 3.3. Photoinitiating Activity

In this investigation, RTIR spectroscopy was used to evaluate the efficiency of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 photoinitiators in the cationic polymerization of epoxy monomer ERL4221. ERL4221 is an important epoxy monomer because it is commercially available and has many applications for cationic photopolymerization.The conversion versus time plots for the polymerization of ERL4221 carried out in the presence of ferrocenium salts NOFC-1, NOFC-2, and I-261 are shown in Figure2. The results show that NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 are capable of photoinitiating the cationic polymerization of epoxy monomer directly on irradiation with long wavelength UV light.The comparative studies show that the polymerization rate of ERL4221 initiated by NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 is obviously higher than that of I-261. The final conversion yield of ERL4221 initiated by NOFC-2 is the highest. The main reason was thought to be the more absorption of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 above 350 nm than that of I-261.The photoinitiated polymerization of ERL4221 was carried out in the presence and absence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) with NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 as the photoinitiators, and the results are shown in Figures3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3, there is an obvious increase in the photopolymerization rate of ERL4221 in the presence of 3.0 wt% BPO comparing with in the absence of BPO.Conversion versus irradiation time plot of epoxy monomer ERL4221 initiated by 3.0 wt% photoinitiator with 3.0 wt% BPO as photosensitizer (I=80 mW/cm2).
(a)(b)Effect of NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 concentration on the polymerization of ERL4221 (I=80 mW/cm2).
(a)(b)The photoinitiated mechanism of epoxide monomer irradiated by ferrocenium salts is shown in Figure3. With the loss of the arene ligand, an iron-based Lewis acid is generated from ferrocenium salts. Coordination of this iron-based Lewis acid with an epoxy monomer is followed by ring-opening polymerization. It was commonly recognized that the photosensitizing role of peroxide BPO is oxidizing iron cation from two valence to a higher three valence and then enhance the rate of complex formation with epoxides.The plots of conversion versus irradiation time of ERL4221 photoinitiated by NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 with different concentration are shown in Figure4. The polymerization rate and final conversion increased with increase in NOFC concentration; because the higher the photoinitiator concentration is, the more the active species are produced during irradiation resulting in the higher rate of polymerization.


## 3.4. Thermal Stability

An important property of photo-resists is the inherent thermal stability of the photoinitiator since pre- and post-exposure bakes can influence the physical state of the material. It is important because crosslinking of unexposed areas must be avoided in order to maximize the photoresist contrast. To assess this likelihood, DSC was employed to measure the onset of thermally initiated polymerization.The samples of epoxy monomer ERL4221 with 1.0 wt% ferrocenium salts were evaluated over a temperature range between 50°C and 250°C at a heating rate of 10°C/min, respectively. From Figure5 for DSC scan, these systems are stable under 160°C. However, when the temperature reaches the onset temperature, the polymerization heat can be obtained without UV irradiation in these systems, and temperature in excess of the onset temperature should be avoided when processing these materials.Figure 5
DSC scan of ERL-4221 with 1.0 wt% ferrocenium salts (heating rate  = 10°C/min static air).


## 4. Conclusions

Two new cationic photoinitiators, NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 have been synthesized. They can photoinitiate the cationic polymerization of ERL4221 directly on irradiation with high-pressure Hg light. Studies with real-time infrared spectroscopy have shown that NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 photoinitiators exhibit good efficiency in the polymerization of ERL4221 and BPO sensitizer is very effective in developing their photoinitiating activities. DSC studies have shown that NOFC-1 and NOFC-2 photoinitiators in epoxides possess good thermal stability under 160°C in the absence of light.Scheme 1
Abbreviations and structures of epoxy compounds and photoinitiators employed.Scheme 2
Synthesis of NOFC-2.Scheme 3
Ring opening reaction of epoxide by an iron-arene complex.



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*Source: 981065-2009-06-23.xml*