Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated polyionomers. Part I: polyperfluoro-sulfonylethoxy propylene vinyl ether sulfonimides containing aryl sulfonic acidsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Text discussing the NMR spectra including structure and figures shown 1H NMR spectra of the poly(perfluoro-sulfonylethoxy propylene vinyl ether) (PSEPVE) sulfonimide derivatives and aromatic sulfonyl chlorides based on o-terphenyl and triphenylene. Two-dimensional 1H1H COSY, 1H13C HS

The synthesis and chemistry associated with the preparation of polysulfonimide polyionomers containing aryl sulfonic acids with high charge densities and various solubilities is reported. Homopolymers of perfluoro-sulfonylethoxy propylene vinyl ether (PSEPVE) are prepared by free radical polymerization and functionalized with sulfonyl chlorides of benzene, terphenyl, and triphenylene. The nature of the pendant group has been found to have a substantial impact on solution properties. In particular, water solubility is easily attained in the poly(PSEPVE) benzene sulfonimide, while the incorporation of bulky, rigid aromatic groups in the poly(PSEPVE) triphenylene sulfonimide disulfonic acid product allowed it to retain water insolubility with high charge density (2 meq. H + per g). Perfluoropolysulfonimide gel network polymers are also prepared utilizing similar chemistry. Thermal stabilities upon boiling in an aqueous solution are established by monitoring charge density and changes in the 19 F NMR spectra of the ionomers. The synthesis and chemistry associated with the preparation of polysulfonimide polyionomers containing aryl sulfonic acids with high charge densities is reported.