Synthesis and properties of a novel quarternerized imidazolium [α-PW12O40]3- salt as a recoverable photo-polymerization catalyst

A recoverable photo-polymerization catalyst based on an imidazolium and a polyoxometalate, viz., (BMIm)(2)(DMIm)PW12O40 (where, BMIm = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, DMIm = 3,3'-dimethyl-1,1'-diimidazolium) is reported. It catalyzes photo-polymerization of several industrially important monomers like styrene, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate. The catalyst is recoverable and hence can be reused. The molecular weight and polydispersity index can be controlled reasonably and a reaction pathway is proposed. The synthesis of this novel catalyst is reported and the catalyst has been characterized using standard techniques such as single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, cyclic voltammetry and various spectroscopic methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1 NMR spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. DFT calculations have been used to explain the catalyst's photo-chemical activity.