Novel Hybrid Monomers Bearing Cycloaliphatic Epoxy and 1-Propenyl Ether Groups

The synthesis of a novel series of hybrid monomers containing cationically polymerizable cycloaliphatic epoxide and 1-propenyl ether functional groups in the same molecule has been conducted. Detailed structure−reactivity studies of the diaryliodonium salt-induced cationic photopolymerizations of these monomers indicate that the rate of epoxide ring-opening polymerization is markedly enhanced by the presence of the 1-propenyl ether group. At the same time, the polymerization of the 1-propenyl ether groups in such hybrid monomers is retarded. A mechanism involving the free-radical-induced decomposition of the photoinitiator has been proposed which serves to amplify the rate of the photoinitiated cationic epoxide ring-opening polymerization.