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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Photoinduced Gilch Polymerization: A Basically New Access to Poly(p-phenylene vinylenes) (PPVs) of Exciting
Serena Kuch1, Nicole Vilbrandt1, Matthias Rehahn1
1Ernst-Berl-Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, D-64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
Abstract:
A novel procedure has been developed for the Gilch reaction leading to poly(p-phenylene vinylenes) (PPVs). In the first step, selective activation of the starting material is achieved at low temperature. Subsequently, controlled chain growth is induced by lighting the α-halo-p-quinodimethane monomer. In contrast to the thermal Gilch polymerization, the photoinduced process allows adjusting crucial parameters such as intensity and energy of light. The progress of PPV formation can be followed visually or by in situ UV-vis spectroscopy. If the polymers are formed under appropriate conditions, they show very high molar masses, polydispersities in the common range, and higher constitutional homogeneity than thermally grown PPVs.
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