Upcycling aromatic polymers through C-H fluoroalkylation.

ABSTRACT: The unique properties imparted by planar, rigid aromatic rings in synthetic polymers make these macromolecules useful in a range of applications, including disposable packaging, aerospace materials, flexible electronics, separation membranes, and engineering thermoplastics. The thermal and chemical stability of aromatic polymers, however, makes it difficult to alter their bulk and/or surface properties and results in challenges during recycling. In response, we report a platform approach for the C-H functionalization of aromatic polymers by taking advantage of their innate reactivity with electrophilic radical intermediates. The method uses mild reaction conditions to photocatalytically generate electrophilic fluoroalkyl radicals for the functionalization of an array of commercially releva

SUBMITTER: Lewis SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6601422 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature