Triarylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate salts as photoactivated acidic catalysts for ring-opening polymerisationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Additional information on reaction rates and spectral/chromatographic data of the polymers produced are included. See DOI: 10.1039/c2cc38114a

Triarylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate salts were shown to be effective catalysts for the ring-opening polymerisation of various cyclic monomers under UV irradiation. A dual basic/acidic catalytic system demonstrated the potential for UV-triggered formation of poly(δ-valerolactone)- b -poly( l -lactide)- b -poly(δ-valerolactone) in a 'one-pot' reaction. Triarylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate salts were shown to be effective catalysts for the ring-opening polymerisation of various cyclic monomers under UV irradiation.