Synthesis and characterization of a novel fluorinated polyether glycol with fluorinated side chains via “living/controlled” cationic polymerization

• Fluorinated glycol has been synthesized by the living/controlled polymerization.
• The polymerization mechanism of fluorinated glycol was proposed.
• 1,4-Dioxane was used as nucleophilic additive to attain living polymerization.
• The BF3·CH3OH has been developed to prepare fluorinated polyether glycol.
• The reactivity ratios of monomers were calculated according to Kelen–Tudos method.

A novel fluorinated polyether glycol with fluorinated side chains is synthesized via “living/controlled” cationic ring-opening polymerization of tetrahydrofuran and fluorine-containing epoxy compounds (FO). The effects of polymerization conditions on monomer conversion, number-average molecular weight (Mn), molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) are measured. Our investigations have shown that the use of a mixed solvent (dichloromethane/1,4-dioxane) can prevent intra- and intermolecular transfer reactions, due to more nucleophilic oxygen atom in 1,4-dioxane. Using BF3·CH3OH/CH2OHCH2OH as initiation system, polymers with predictable number-average molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution (1.03 < Mw/Mn < 1.08) were produced. On the basis of the reactivity ratio of FO/THF and monomer conversion, a mechanism of living/controlled polymerization has been proposed.

A novel fluorinated polyether glycol with fluorinated side chains was successfully synthesized via “living/controlled” cationic polymerization. The reaction rate of polymers increased linearly with the increase of monomer conversion. The obtained polymer has predictable molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide