A novel iron-chelating polyimide network as a visible-light-driven catalyst for photoinduced radical polymerization

With the aim of developing a low-cost and efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst for radical polymerization, iron-chelating polyimide networks ([email protected]) was fabricated by firstly synthesizing photoactive melamine-containing (MPI) then incorporating Fe(III) cations into polymer networks. [email protected] exhibits wide absorption spectrum ranging from 220 to 1250 nm 3.5 times higher photocurrent intensity as compared with pristine MPI. Based on its excellent photo-electric properties, employed recyclable heterogeneous catalyst, providing sufficient activity visible-light driven polymerization synthesize poly(methyl methacrylate) molecular weight up 31.3 × 104 g/mol. Taking advantage nature could be facilely regenerated solution filtration without an obvious loss activity. This research provides novel catalyst polymerization.