Synthesis of multi-chain-end-functionalized polymers with a definite number of perfluoroalkyl groups

Abstract

This review summarizes a series of studies on the presice synthesis and surface characterization of end-functionalized polymers with perfluoroalkyl (Rf) groups by means of living anionic polymerization followed by quantitative and selective end-fucntionalization reactions. The combination of living polymers and Rf-containing alkyl halide plays an inportant role for a quantitiative introduction of the Rf group. The resulting Rf-terminated poly (2-hydroxyethyl methactrylate) film showed hydrophobic property in spite of its essential hydrophilicity. It was also observed that the surface structure of such polymer films were reconstructed corresponding to the environmental changes. Moreover, successful synthesis of end-multi-functionalized polymers with a certain number of Rf groups were demonstrated by means of an iterative methodology for the multi functionalization reaction. The number of Rf groups introduced are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16, and 32. From the analyses of these polymer films by XPS and contact angle measurements, it was found that the surface enrichment and segregation of Rf groups strongly depend on the chemical linkage between Rf group and main chain as well as the number of Rf groups.