Fluorination rates of polyolefins as a function of structure and gas atmosphere

Polyolefins and fluoropolymers were reacted with elemental fluorine under carefully controlled conditions in a thermobalance adapted to be compatible with fluorine gas. The fluorination reactions were monitored by measuring the mass increase as a result of hydrogen substitution by fluorine. The mass increase was directly proportional to the square root of the fluorination time, which indicates that fluorine gas diffusion to the unreacted surface is the rate determining step. The fluorination rate was increased by increasing the fluorine concentration and the fluorination temperature. The fluorination rate is higher when nitrogen rather than helium is used as diluting gas. The fluorination rate for the reaction in which CO₂ is used as diluting gas is the same as during fluorination with nitrogen as diluting gas, while the presence of oxygen dramatically decreased the fluorination rate. Oxygen is incorporated during fluorination with oxygen as diluting gas, while no functionalization was observed when CO₂ was employed as diluting gas. The effect of polymer structure on fluorination was studied. Poly(vinylfluoride) gained mass during fluorination, while no reaction was observed for poly(vinylidenefluoride). The reaction rate for polypropylene was higher than that of polyethylene. In celebration of the 60^th birthday of Dr. Andrew K. Galwey     

Innovative Syntheses of Cyano(fluoro)borates: Catalytic Cyanation,Electrochemical and Electrophilic Fluorination

Different types of high-yield, easily scalable syntheses for cyano(fluoro)borates Kt[BF_n(CN)_4−n] (n=0–2) (Kt=cation), which are versatile building blocks for materials applications and chemical synthesis, have been developed. Tetrafluoroborates react with trimethylsilyl cyanide in the presence of metal-free Brønsted or Lewis acid catalysts under unprecedentedly mild conditions to give tricyanofluoroborates or tetracyanoborates. Analogously, pentafluoroethyltrifluoroborates are converted into pentafluoroethyltricyanoborates. Boron trifluoride etherate, alkali metal salts, and trimethylsilyl cyanide selectively yield dicyanodifluoroborates or tricyanofluoroborates. Fluorination of cyanohydridoborates is the third reaction type that includes direct fluorination with, for example, elemental fluorine, stepwise halogenation/fluorination reactions, and electrochemical fluorination (ECF) according to the Simons process. In addition, fluorination of [BH(CN)₂{OC(O)Et}]⁻ to result in [BF(CN)₂{OC(O)Et}]⁻ is described.     

Surface modification of several carbon-based materials: comparison between CF4 rf plasma and direct F2-gas fluorination routes

Due to their extreme reactivity, fluorine and fluorinated gases may be used to modify the surface properties of numerous materials. In the following, the surface fluorination of some carbon-based compounds (graphite, graphitised carbon fibres, carbon blacks and elastomers) using CF₄ rf plasma technique and direct F₂-gas fluorination is proposed. From XPS studies, the different types of CF bonding obtained in the materials after treatment have been correlated either to the physico-chemical characteristics of the pristine material or to the experimental parameters of the fluorination. Reaction mechanisms are proposed.     

Direct fluorination—Useful tool to enhance commercial properties of polymer articles

Fundamental features and industrial applications of the direct fluorination of polymers are reviewed. Fundamental features of the direct fluorination of a set of polymers, such as polystyrene, polyethyleneterephthalate, poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide), PMMA, LDPE (two types), HDPE (six types), polyvinyltrimethylsilane, poly(4-methyl-pentene-1), polyimide Matrimid 5216^®, polysulfones, polyetheretherketone, polycarbonatesiloxane, polysulphone-polybuthadiene block-copolymers, polypropylene, PVF, PVDF, etc. are described. Influence of composition of the fluorinating mixture (F₂-He-N₂-O₂-HF), fluorine partial pressure, temperature and fluorination duration, on the rate of formation of the fluorinated layer and the chemical composition, density, refraction index, surface energy, gas separation properties and friction coefficient of fluorinated layer have been investigated. Processes of formation and termination of long-living and short-living radicals and grafting of acrylonitrile to fluorinated polymers have been studied. Industrial applications of the direct fluorination to enhance the commercial properties of polymeric goods, such as separation factor of polymeric membranes for gas separation, barrier properties of polymer vessels, pipes and packagings, adhesion, printability, wetting and transparency in visible and IR are reviewed.     

Selective fluorination of an aryl triazolinone herbicide intermediate

Fluoroaryl 1,2,4-triazolin-5-ones are an important class of herbicidal compounds useful in a variety of crop protection applications, primarily for the control of grassy and broad-leaf plant species. While a number of different synthetic strategies can be used for the step-wise preparation of these complex molecules, it is generally preferred to introduce fluorine later in the synthetic pathway, since the presence of fluorine and other halogens has a dominant effect on all subsequent synthetic steps. We have investigated the reactions that occur between aryl triazolinones and a variety of fluorination agents, including F₂/N₂, XeF₂, (CF₃SO₂)₂NF, Selectfluor^®, CF₂(OF)₂, CF₃OF, CH₃COOF, and CF₃COOF, and have used this knowledge to develop several alternative high-yielding routes to fluoroaryl 1,2,4-triazolin-5-ones. The fluorine introduction strategy and experimental results for a representative example of this important class of compounds are discussed herein.     

Surface and bulk properties of severely fluorinated carbon fibres

The development of ultra-inert composites using fluorinated carbon fibres as the reinforcement requires fluorinated carbon fibres with a durable surface composition. Here we report the effect of direct fluorination using an F₂/N₂ mixture at 653 K on the surface and bulk properties of two types of high strength carbon fibres. These were treated up to a surface fluorine content of ∼64 at.% and a bulk fluorine content of ∼15 mass%. A colour change was observed after fluorination caused by the changes in the graphitic band structure of the carbon fibres by the introduction of carbon sp³ hybridisation. The tensile strength and Young's modulus decrease after fluorination by up to 33 and 22%, respectively. XRD shows marginal changes in the interlayer distance but the crystallite size increases. Changes in the electrical conductivity of the fluorinated carbon fibres indicate that the modification is confined to the near surface volume. Predominantly covalent C-F bonds are formed as shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and measured zeta (ζ)-potentials. Hence the fluorinated fibres are hydrophobic and have low surface tensions. This and the large increase in fibre surface area, as determined by nitrogen adsorption, is expected to facilitate interfacial interaction between fluorinated carbon fibres and fluoropolymers.     

Bis‐tert‐Alcohol‐Functionalized Crown‐6‐Calix[4]arene: An Organic Promoter for Nucleophilic Fluorination

A bis‐tert‐alcohol‐functionalized crown‐6‐calix[4]arene (BACCA) was designed and prepared as a multifunctional organic promoter for nucleophilic fluorinations with CsF. By formation of a CsF/BACCA complex, BACCA could release a significantly active and selective fluoride source for S_N2 fluorination reactions. The origin of the promoting effects of BACCA was studied by quantum chemical methods. The role of BACCA was revealed to be separation of the metal fluoride to a large distance (>8 Å), thereby producing an essentially “free” F^?. The synergistic actions of the crown‐6‐calix[4]arene subunit (whose O atoms coordinate the counter‐cation Cs⁺) and the terminal tert‐alcohol OH groups (forming controlled hydrogen bonds with F^?) of BACCA led to tremendous efficiency in S_N2 fluorination of base‐sensitive substrates.     

Selective introduction of a fluorine atom into carbohydrates and a nucleoside by ring-opening fluorination reaction of epoxides

Ring-opening fluorination reactions of epoxides using tetrabutylammonium bifluoride (TBABF)-KHF₂, or Et₃N-3HF under microwave irradiation were applied for the introduction of a fluorine atom into the carbohydrate molecules. When TBABF-KHF₂ was used as the fluorination reagent, a fluorine atom was introduced regioselectively and various functional groups can tolerate the conditions. When Et₃N-3HF was used under microwave irradiation, the reaction time could be remarkably shortened compared with the conventional oil-bath heating.     

Fluorination of poly(p-phenylene) using TbF4 as fluorinating agent

The fluorination using TbF₄ as fluorinating agent was successfully performed on poly(p-phenylene). The method allows the fluorine content of the polymer to be controlled and the formation of structural defects, such as dangling bonds, to be significantly decreased by comparison with the direct fluorination using pure F₂ gas. The aromatic character of the phenyl ring is partly maintained through the fluorination contrary to the direct fluorination (using pure F₂ gas), for which a quasi-perfluorination and a partial decomposition of the polymer occur. Complementary analytical techniques have been used, such as ¹⁹F and ¹³C solid state NMR, FT-IR and EPR to compare the samples as a function of the reaction conditions.     

Fluorination effect of activated carbon electrodes on the electrochemical performance of electric double layer capacitors

The surface of phenol-based activated carbon (AC) was fluorinated at room temperature with different F₂:N₂ gas mixtures for use as an electrode material in an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC). The effect of surface fluorination on EDLC electrochemical performance was investigated. The specific capacitance of the fluorinated AC-based EDLC was measured in a 1 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte, in which it was observed that the specific capacitances increased from 375 and 145 F g⁻¹ to 491 and 212 F g⁻¹ with the scan rates of 2 and 50 mV s⁻¹, respectively, in comparison to those of an unfluorinated AC-based EDLC when the fluorination process was optimized via 0.2 bar partial F₂ gas pressure. This enhancement in capacitance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of increased polarization on the AC surface, specific surface area, and micro and mesopore volumes, all of which were induced by the fluorination process. The observed increase in polarization was derived from a highly electronegative fluorine functional group that emerged due to the fluorination process. The increased surface area and pore volume of the AC was derived from the physical function of the fluorine functional group.