Quantifying Photobase Generation and Latent-Anionic Cure: Base Release, Neutralisation, Step-Growth, Polyaddition and Ring-Opening Polymerisation

Photobase generators and other photolatent base systems are often evaluated through polymer conversion or a colourimetric response. Those observations do not by themselves quantify how much base was generated, released into the matrix, survived neutralisation or remained catalytically active. Optical absorption, cage cleavage, nominal base equivalents, pH, free-base concentration and reaction rate are related but non-equivalent measurands. This review defines a quantitative chain from incident and absorbed light through chemical base release, neutralisation and reaction-family response. It requires direct or calibrated base-release evidence, matrix-matched controls, time-resolved cure measurement and explicit treatment of acidity, water, solvent, counterions, temperature and post-exposure propagation. Separate metrological architectures are given for base-catalysed step growth, polyaddition and anionic ring-opening polymerisation. The evidence supports system-specific response maps; it does not establish a universal loading, dose, quantum yield, pH, neutralisation capacity, latency threshold or conversion target. ER-082 retains generator-release chemistry, Michael-addition networks, ring-opening routes, anionic boundaries and latency qualification; ER-220 is restricted to the calibrated quantitative separation of optical input, released base, matrix demand and reaction response.