Synthesis of fluorinated dimethacrylate monomer and its application in preparing Bis-GMA free dental resin

• A new fluorinated dimethacrylate monomer FUDMA was synthesized.
• Bis-GMA free dental resin was prepared with FUDMA as base resin.
• FUDMA based resin had higher DC, lower VS, and higher fracture energy than Bis-GMA based resin.
• FUDMA based resin had no disadvantage when compared with Bis-GMA based resin.

With the aim to reduce human exposure to Bis-phenol A derivatives, a novel fluorinated dimethacrylate monomer FUDMA was synthesized and mixed with triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) to prepare 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloy- loxypropyl)phenyl]propane (Bis-GMA) free dental resin system. Physicochemical properties, such as double bond conversion (DC), polymerization shrinkage (VS), water sorption (WS) and solubility (SL), flexural strength (FS) and modulus (FM), and fracture energy of FUDMA/TEGDMA resin system were investigated. Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin system was used as a control. The results showed that, compared with Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin system, FUDMA/TEGDMA had advantages like higher DC, lower VS, and higher fracture energy, but had no disadvantages. Therefore, FUDMA/TEGDMA resin system had better comprehensive physicochemical properties than Bis-GMA/TEGDMA resin system, and FUDMA had potential to be used as a substitute for Bis-GMA.