All categories
70

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropyl Methacrylate: A Fluorinated Monomer for Polymer Modification and Synthesis

2023/5/23

1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate (HFIPMA) is an ester of methacrylic acid and hexafluoroisopropanol. It has a molecular formula of C7H6F6O2 and a molecular weight of 236.11 g/mol. It is a clear, colorless liquid with a boiling point of 110 °C and a vapor pressure of 0.71 psi at 20 °C1. It has a high hydrophobicity and a high reactivity of methacrylates. It contains monomethyl ether hydroquinone (MEHQ) as an inhibitor to prevent unwanted polymerization during storage.

HFIPMA can be polymerized by various methods such as free radical polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The resulting polymers have a high fluorine content and a low refractive index, which make them suitable for applications in optical materials and optoelectronics. For example, poly(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate) (PHFIPMA) is a fluorinated polymer that can be used to develop organic photovoltaics, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), and polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) because of its high mechanical strength, high thermal stability, chemical inertness, low dielectric constants, and low water absorptivity.

HFIPMA can also be used as a precursor for the post-polymerization modification of the hexafluoroisopropyl ester side chains with water-soluble amines such as methoxy tri(ethylene glycol) amine, 2-hydroxypropyl amine and 3-(dimethylamino)-1-propylamine. The resulting polymers have enhanced solubility and functionality in aqueous media. HFIPMA can also be copolymerized with other monomers such as styrene, methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, butadiene, unsaturated polyesters and drying oils to obtain copolymers with different characteristics.

HFIPMA is a versatile monomer that can be used to create polymers with various applications in different fields. It is an important building block for the modification and synthesis of fluorinated materials that have superior performance and functionality.