Photochemistry of Bisphenol-A-Based Polycarbonate: Early Detection of Photoproducts by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The utility of fluorescence spectroscopy in detection of salicylic acid and 2,2’-biphenol type products in the very early stages of photolysis of polycarbonate and its model compounds has been demonstrated. The broad structureless peak around 410 nm produced by photolysis of polycarbonate and model compounds in THF is assigned to emission from a salicylic acid type photoproduct. Formation of salicylic acid groups has been shown to be dependent on the presence of oxygen. The emission with peak maxima around 35Cb360 nm produced by photolysis of polycarbonate and model compounds in THF (or dichloromethane) is consistent with fluorescence from a 2,2’-biphenol type photoproduct. Salicylic acid and 2,2’-biphenolic products are quite photolabile; hence the need for their early detection during photolysis of polycarbonate