Electron phototransfer in the initiation of polymerisation

The results of studies on the participation of exciplexes and other products of electron phototransfer in the initiation of polymerisation are correlated in the review. The relationship between the nature of the primary radical species and the mechanism of initiation of a polymerisation chain is discussed. Particular attention is given to the effect of the electronic structure of the photoinitiator, the chemical nature of the activator and monomer, and the polarity of the medium on the mechanism of photoinitiation and its efficiency. The bibliography includes 165 references.