Photoacid-mediated ring opening polymerization driven by visible light.

A novel methodology of visible light regulated ring opening polymerization in the presence of reversible merocyanine-based photoacid was reported for the first time. In combination with a photoinduced radical polymerization technique, a dual wavelength light controlled orthogonal polymerization system was investigated to switch the polymerization between two different monomers and for the preparation of block and graft copolymers in one pot.