Synthesis and properties of ionic photoproduction of acid generators based on iodonium salts

This paper presents the design and synthesis of nine ionic photogenerating acid generators (PAGs) based on iodonium salts. The compounds were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 19F NMR and UV, the structures and properties of 9 PAGs molecules were determined. The maximum ultraviolet absorption wavelength of each PAGs is in the range of 200-250nm, with a wide absorption domain, making it highly applicable. In addition, Using the uneven discoloration of Rhodamine B (RB) in the presence of acid, the acid production efficiency of 9 PAGs under 254nm ultraviolet irradiation was quantitatively measured in acetonitrile. It was found that all 9 PAGs underwent I-C cleavage and generated specific acids and other photolysis products. The mechanism for the heteroclitic cleavage of the I-C bond to generate acid was backed by calculations using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT).