FTIR spectroscopy study of the UV irradiation induced changes in an anthracene containing copolymer

By means of FTIR spectroscopy copoly(9-anthryloxyhexyl methacrylate/n-butyl methacrylate) has been characterized. It has been shown, that the irradiation of this copolymer with UV light leads to changes in its chemical structure, concerning only the anthracene unit. When the irradiation is carried out in inert atmosphere the main route of the photoreaction is dimerization of anthracene. On the other hand in presence of oxygen mainly peroxides are formed. All these changes have been detected and studied by FTIR spectroscopy. This method has proved to be very suitable for investigation of the photoprocesses taking place in such type of polymers.