Visible Light-Induced Polymerization to Access Polyamides

Abstract

Visible light-induced polymerization, as a promising and green strategy, is showing great potential in preparing value-added polymers. Herein, a visible light photoredox catalysis method is reported to afford a library of polyamide with high yields (up to 99%) and high molecular weights (M_ws) (up to 71 000 g mol⁻¹). Dithioacids and diamines as the monomers, and 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium tetrafluoroborate (Mes-Acr-MeBF₄) as the organic photoredox catalyst give the polyamides with structural diversity in air under mild conditions without extra metal, base, or additives.