Synthesis and characterization of perfluorocyclopentene‐thioether polymers

Abstract

Due to their unique properties and use in high performance materials, the ability to obtain fluorinated polymers utilizing straightforward synthetic methods remains of interest. In this study, we report the facile synthesis of new fluoropolymers via nucleophilic addition of a di‐thiol to perfluorocyclopentene. Initially, model studies were completed with perfluorocyclopentene and benzenethiol and TMS‐protected benzenethiol to identify the optimal reaction conditions for the polymerization. These reaction conditions were then utilized to prepare perfluorocyclopentene‐thioether polymers from perfluorocyclopentene and 4, 4′‐thiobisbenzenethiol. The isolated polymers had molecular weight distributions consistent with step‐growth polymers and 19F NMR spectroscopy revealed that the addition of the nucleophile to perfluorocyclopentene was controlled. Analysis by differential scanning calorimetry showed that the polymers were amorphous with glass transition temperatures around 65 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis in both air and nitrogen showed an initial degradation temperature around 370 °C, while the air analysis produced an additional plateau with a degradation temperature near 592 °C. This is the first known report of utilizing perfluorocyclopentene for the preparation of perfluorinated‐thioether polymers.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.