Visible light induced controlled cationic polymerization by in situ generated catalyst from manganese carbonyl.

A robust method for preparing controlled poly(vinyl ethers) utilizing commercially available reagents under visible light is reported. Pentacarbonylbromomanganese (Mn(CO)5Br), generated from the conventional photolysis of manganese carbonyl and halide abstraction, is considered as a catalyst to oxidize carbon radical to carbenium ion in this polymerization. Polymerization behavior including the effects of solvents and monomers have been investigated.