Visible-light-controlled homo- and copolymerization of styrenes by a bichromophoric Ir-Pd catalyst

Visible-light-controlled polymerization was achieved by a bichromophoric organopalladium catalyst which possesses a naphthyl-substituted cyclometallated Ir(III) light-absorbing moiety. The complex was highly active toward styrene polymerization upon visible-light irradiation, and its photoactivity toward polymerization and dimerization was switchable. On the basis of the switching activity, controlled copolymerization of styrene and vinyl ether was achieved upon photo-irradiation to give the corresponding copolymers.