Cationic photopolymerization of liquid fullerene derivative under visible light

We describe the synthesis and cationic photopolymerization of a C(60) derivative bearing a 2,4,6-tris(epoxynonyloxy)phenyl moiety (FB9(ox)). Rheological analysis of monomer indicates that temperature of 130 degrees C yields sufficiently low viscosity for polymerization. A thin film of the liquid monomer has been cationically photopolymerized with a photoinitiator system of curcumin and p-(octyloxyphenyl)phenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate, which harvests 424 nm light instead of commonly used ultraviolet light. The degree of polymerization was determined with ATR-IR. The reaction is the first recorded photopolymerization of a fullerene derivative thin film. The polymer exhibits good mechanical and chemical stabilities. The polymerization can also be achieved by annealing at 150 degrees C without illumination, but with a smaller degree of polymerization. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.