Maria L. B. Figueiredo co-authors a new publication on Fe(II)-based photocatalysts for radical photopolymerisation under LED light
We are pleased to celebrate the recent publication of Maria L. B. Figueiredo, a former visiting PhD student within SISC, in the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. The article, titled “Iron(II)–Schiff Base Complexes as Photocatalysts for Controlled Radical Photopolymerization under LED Irradiation”, showcases research conducted under the supervision of Felipe Fantuzzi, in collaboration with Valdemiro Carvalho-Jr and Beatriz Goi from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP).
In this study, three Fe(II) complexes featuring non-symmetrical Schiff base ligands were synthesised and characterised using a range of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The team demonstrated their application in controlled radical photopolymerisation (CRP²) of methyl acrylate using mild LED light and low-toxicity initiators and donors. Among the complexes tested, FeIISaloex emerged as the most efficient photocatalyst, producing polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions and high conversion rates.
Supported by DFT and TD-DFT calculations, the study elucidates the structure–function relationships and proposes a plausible catalytic mechanism. The work contributes to the growing field of sustainable polymer chemistry and reinforces the value of early-career research within SISC.
Read the full article here.