Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Semifluorinated Polymers Via Cycloaddition And Nucleophilic Addition Reactions Of Aromatic Trifluorovinylethers, Scott Iacono

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This dissertation encompasses the synthesis, characterization, and properties of semifluorinated polymers derived from thermal polymerization of aryl trifluorovinyl ether (TFVE) monomers. This work is divided into two parts based on the methodology of thermal polymerization using aryl TFVE monomers. The first part of this work involves the thermal [2 + 2]cyclodimerization of aryl TFVE monomers affording perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether polymers. Chapter 1 provides an overview of PFCB aryl ether polymers as a next-generation class of high performance fluoropolymers that have been successfully employed for a myriad of technologies. PFCB aryl ether polymers are highly desired because of their high …