Luminescence rigidochromism of fac-CIRe(CO)3(4,7-Ph2phen) (4,7-Ph2phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) as a spectroscopic probe in monitoring polymerization of photosensitive thin films

A method for monitoring the extent of photoinitiated acrylate and epoxy polymerixations is presented. The complex fac-CIRe(CO)3(4,7-Ph2phen) (4,7-Ph2phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phananthroline) is an effective spectroscopic probe which can monitor the progress of photochemical curing reactions. Its useful key properties include solubility and thermal stability in nonpolar thin film materials, intense visible absorptions and their low-lying MLCT excited states which yield detectable emissions in the red region of the spectrum.