Fluorine-Containing Ether via Liquid-Phase Fluorination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for synthesizing fluorine-containing polymers, such as radical polymerization and direct fluorination with fluorine gas, face limitations in achieving homogeneous fluorination and high fluorine content, especially for high molecular weight polymers, due to low solubility issues and surface preferential fluorination.
Innovation Solution
A fluorine-containing ether compound with enhanced fluorine content is achieved by fluorinating a polymer with a repeating unit represented by Formula (I), using liquid-phase direct fluorination with diluted fluorine gas in a solvent saturated with fluorine, allowing for higher fluorine incorporation and improved solubility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If direct fluorination of solid polymer with fluorine gas is performed, then fluorine content is increased, but homogeneous fluorination is not achieved due to surface preferential fluorination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the polymer from solid to dissolved state in a fluorinated solvent. This parameter change allows fluorine gas to access and react with polymer chains throughout the bulk solution rather than only at the surface, achieving homogeneous fluorination while maintaining high fluorine content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fluorinated solvent as an intermediary medium. The solvent dissolves the polymer and saturates with fluorine gas, creating a fluorinated environment that mediates the fluorination reaction. This intermediary allows uniform distribution of fluorine throughout the polymer solution, preventing surface preferential reaction.
2Productivity
If liquid phase fluorination is performed with high molecular weight polymer, then reaction does not proceed sufficiently due to low solubility in fluorinated solvent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the solvent by selecting specifically fluorinated solvents with appropriate molecular structures. These solvents have enhanced solvating power for high molecular weight polymers while maintaining high fluorine content, enabling both complete reaction and sufficient solubility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite solvent systems comprising fluorinated solvents that combine appropriate molecular weight, fluorine content, and solvating properties. This composite approach creates a solvent environment that can dissolve high molecular weight polymers effectively while maintaining the fluorination reaction efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fluorine component is introduced into side chain to improve solubility, then solubility in fluorinated solvent is improved, but fluorine content of produced polymer is not satisfactorily high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary dissolution of the polymer in the fluorinated solvent before conducting the fluorination reaction. This preliminary action ensures complete solvation and accessibility of all polymer chains to fluorine gas, enabling subsequent achievement of high fluorine content throughout the polymer structure without solubility limitations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method efficiently produces fluorine-containing ether compounds with high fluorine content, exhibiting properties like low refractive index, chemical resistance, and electrical insulation, applicable as transparent materials with improved physical properties.
Implementation Method 1
fluorinating a polymer including a repeating unit represented by the following Formula (I)
Data Source
AI summary
A fluorine-containing ether compound with a fluorine content increased, the fluorine content being enhanced by fluorinating a polymer including a repeating unit represented by the following Formula (I):wherein Rh1 represents a divalent linkage group; Rf2 represents an perfluoroalkylene group; each of Rf3 and Rf4 independently represents a fluorine atom, a perfluoroalkyl group or a perfluoroalkoxy group, and any two of Rf2, Rf3 and Rf4 may be combined with each other to form a ring.