Quaternary ammonium salts are photobase generators. Recently, we prepared a novel quaternary ammonium tetraphenylborate salt bearing a 6-methoxynaphthoylmethyl group. The structure of the products was confirmed by elemental analysis and H-1-NMR. Thermogravirnetry showed its good thermostability. UV spectra and fluorescence emission spectra of the samples were studied. A mass spectrometry method for the analysis of the tertiary amine and other fragments produced by photolysis was established. Photolysis was found to produce both tertiary amine and free radicals. Therefore, the products of photolysis not only could cause thermal curing of epoxide but also could initiate the free-radical polymerization of acrylate or methyl acrylate monomer. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.