Polymers and block copolymers of fluorostyrenes by ATRP

Fully or partly fluorinated polymers have many desirable and intriguing properties. In the framework of a larger program on design and control of new functional block copolymers we recently employed the Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) protocol on 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene (FS). We were able to produce both FS homopolymers and diblock copolymers with styrene. The FS demonstrated controlled ATRP behaviour and all the new materials have relative low polydispersities and improved chemical resistance as well as increased thermal stability. Here we want to report on new fluorinated materials based on 2,3,5,6-tetrafiuoro-4-methoxy-styrene (TFMS). TFMS homopolymers as well as diblock copolymers with FS are produced by ATRP. Both types of novel polymers were subsequently demethylated and different side chains introduced on the resulting hydroxy sites.