Cyclic Perfluoropolyether: Distinct Film Formability and Thermostabilization Upon Recyclable Cyclic–Linear Topological Transformation

Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is an industrially important fluoropolymer and has great industrial importance due to its flexible, noncombustible, and chemically robust properties. However, exploration and application of chemically modified homogeneous PFPEs are hampered by their immiscibility against no...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecular rapid communications. 2022-01, Vol.43 (2), p.e2100567-n/a
Main Authors: Honda, Satoshi, Ikuta, Naoya, Oka, Minami, Yamaguchi, Shuhei, Handa, Shinya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chains
Chemical synthesis
cyclic polymers
Ethers
Fabrication
Fluorocarbons
Fluoropolymers
Glass
Immiscibility
Miscibility
perfluoropolyethers
Phase separation
Thermal cycling
thermostabilization
topological transformation
Topology
Transformations
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Summary:Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is an industrially important fluoropolymer and has great industrial importance due to its flexible, noncombustible, and chemically robust properties. However, exploration and application of chemically modified homogeneous PFPEs are hampered by their immiscibility against nonfluorine‐containing molecules. Here, the synthesis is reported of cyclic PFPE with hexaarylbiimidazoles (HABIs) in chains from linear PFPE having 2,4,5‐triphenylimidazole (lophine) end groups. While phase separation between the end groups and main chains took place for linear PFPE, HABIs and main chains in cyclic PFPE are miscible to form transparent glass films. The design of cyclic PFPE also enables cyclic to linear topological transformation based on conversion of HABIs into lophines upon mild heating in the glass film state. Sequential linear‐to‐cyclic and cyclic‐to‐linear topological transformations enable fabrication of thermostabilized transparent films derived from PFPE. Linear‐to‐cyclic and the following cyclic‐to‐linear double topological transformations of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) enable the formation of thermally stable films. While phase separation of 2,4,5‐triphenylimidazole (lophine) end groups from the main chain occur for linear PFPE, cyclization of the linear PFPE by dimerizing lophine end groups into hexaarylbiimidazoles makes them miscible, resulting in the formation of transparent glass films. Subsequent linearization by heat treatment thermostabilizes the film with retaining its transparency.
ISSN:1022-1336
1521-3927
DOI:10.1002/marc.202100567