Perfluorocyclohexenyl (PFCH) aromatic ether polymers from perfluorocyclohexene and polycyclic aromatic bisphenols

Abstract

Perfluorocycohexenyl (PFCH) aromatic ether polymers were synthesized by step-growth polycondensation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bisphenols and decafluorocyclohexene (DFCH) affording a new class of unsaturated semi-fluoropolymers containing the rigid PAH linkage. Two acenaphthenequinone and two phenanthrenedione derived PAH bisphenols underwent base-mediated step-growth vinyl addition/elimination polymerization with DFCH to give polymers with well-defined unsaturation, moderate molecular weights, and variable glass transition (T_g) and thermal decomposition (T_d) temperatures based on the starting PAH bisphenol monomer. With one exception exhibiting a low degree of crystallinity, PFCH polymers with PAH bisphenols were amorphous with T_g ranging from 184 to 240 °C. The new polymers contain intact unsaturation and reactive PAH moieties amenable for selective post-polymerization functionalization and crosslinking.