Electron-impact and thermal fragmentation patterns of some perfluoroalkylene-linked aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds

The pyrolysis of some perfluoroalkylene-linked aromatic and heteroaromatic polymer precursors and a poly(1,3-phenylenehexafluorotrimethylene) has been studied using a combined pyrolysis-gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. Whereas the electron-impact induced fragmentations of the polymer precursors are almost exclusively controlled by cleavage β to the aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, thermolysis of these compounds yields products whose formation is consistent with the occurrence of primary cleavage processes that are not confined β to the ring.