Preparation of partially fluorinated aryl/alkyl vinylene ether polymers

A new class of partially fluorinated alternating aryl/alkyl vinylene ether (FAVE) polymers were prepared from addition polymerization of aryl trifluorovinyl ethers (TFVEs) with 1,4‐butanediol or 4‐hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Monodisperse FAVE telechelic polymers were also prepared possessing latent thermal reactivity which afforded chain‐extended perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ethers via step‐growth [2 + 2] cyclodimerization of the aryl TFVEs. Both linear and PFCB chain‐extended FAVE polymers produced thermally robust, optically transparent, flexible spin‐cast films. The FAVE polymers and their telechelic polymers were characterized using 19F NMR and 1H NMR complemented with molecular weight analysis using gel permeation chromatography and thermal analysis employing differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry A new class of partially fluorinated alternating aryl/alkyl vinylene ether polymers were prepared from addition polymerization of aryl trifluorovinyl ethers with 1,4‐butanediol or 4‐hydroxybenzyl alcohol.