Allyloxy isoquinolinium salts as initiators for cationic polymerization

2-Propenyloxy isoquinolinium hexafluoroantimonate and 2-methyl-2-propenyloxy isoquinolinium hexafluoroantimonate were synthesized and characterized. Their capability to act as initiator and co-initiator for the cationic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) was examined. Both thermally and photochemically latent effectiveness of these salts in promoting polymerization of CHO at 70°C and λ=350 nm, respectively was investigated. The accelearating effect of thermal and photochemical radical sources were also demonstrated. The contribution of electron transfer and addition–fragmentation mechanisms was discussed.