Solid-phase synthesis on functionalised fluoropolymer resins. Part 2: Preparation and properties of functional Merrifield-type resins possessing a perfluorinated polymer backbone

Monomers α,β,β-trifluorostyrene and 4-methyl-α,β,β-trifluorostyrene were prepared and were copolymerised under free-radical emulsion conditions to give highly stable, well defined lipophilic polymer resins. Benzylic halogenation of the polymer products gave 4-chloromethyl and 4-bromomethyl derivatives which could be elaborated through nucleophilic displacement of halide. The reaction of 4-fluorophenol with the 4-chloromethylated poly(trifluorostyrene) resin was followed by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy and proceeded more rapidly than for Merrifield resin.