Preparation of fluoro derivative of cellulose acetate with (1,1,1,3,3,3)-hexafluoro-2-propanol by Mitsunobu reaction and its characterization

Novel ethers of cellulose acetate with (1,1,1,3,3,3)-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFP) were prepared at an ambient condition using the Mitsunobu reaction. Reaction time was varied from 27 h to 93 h to identify the effect of the amount of fluorination. Based on energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, the degree of substitution of HFP on the cellulose acetate was found to be 0.24 for 93 h and 0.13 for 27 h reaction time. Infrared analysis confirmed the etherification of cellulose acetate with HFP.