Novel polymeric photoinitiators bearing side‐chain α‐aminoacetophenone moieties for ultraviolet‐curable pigmented coatings

New polymeric photoinitiators with pendant α-aminoacetophenone moieties, such as the homopolymers of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-benzyl-2-[N-methyl-N-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)]aminopropan-1-one and of 1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-benzyl-2-[N-methyl-N-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)]aminobutan-1-one have been prepared and fully characterized. Their photoinitiation activity has been also checked in the ultraviolet cure of a standard acrylic mixture, under irradiation over 380 nm, thus simulating the absorption conditions of a TiO2-pigmented coating formulation. The results have been compared with those found by using the corresponding low-molecular-weight structural models, purposely synthesized. The activity data obtained are discussed and related to the structural requirements of the above systems. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 2237–2246, 1997