Silane reduction of onium salts

Novel redox initiators for cationic polymerizations were developed consisting of an onium salt together with a SiH functional silane or siloxane. The reduction of the onium salt by the silane is catalyzed by noble metal complexes or certain transition metal compounds and takes place spontaneously at room temperature. The redox reaction of the onium salt with the silane results in the liberation of a strong Bronsted acid that can be subsequently used to initiate cationic polymerizations. Typical onium salts that have been employed in these redox initiator systems are diaryliodonium salts, triarylsulfonium salts and S,S-dialkyl-S-phenacylsulfonium salts. Studies of the effects of variations in the structures of the onium salt, the silane and the type of noble metal catalyst were carried out. In principle, the redox initiator systems are applicable to all types of cationically polymerizable monomers and oligomers, including the ring-opening polymerizations of such heterocyclic monomers as epoxides and oxetanes and, in addition, the polymerization of vinyl monomers such as vinyl ethers, N-vinylcarbazole and styrenic monomers. The use of these novel initiator systems for carrying out commercially attractive crosslinking polymerizations for coatings, composites and encapsulations is discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.