Synthesis and polymerizations of methyl 3,3-difluorocyclobutene-1-carboxylate and methyl 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene-1-carboxylate

Two new monomers, methyl 3,3-difluorocyclobutene-1-carboxylate (MDFC) and methyl 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene-1-carboxylate (MTFC), were synthesized. Under free radical conditions, MDFC gave homopolymer; MTFC did not. Copolymerizations of these monomers showed them to behave as very electron-deficient monomers, MTFC more so than MDFC. MDFC copolymerized with various vinyl ethers and styrenes to give high yields of almost 1:1 copolymers. Acrylonitrile copolymerized in lower yield with less incorporation of MDFC; trimethylethylenetricarboxylate did not copolymerize. Bicyclobutane-1-carbonitrile copolymerized well. MTFC copolymerized with the very electron-rich monomers t-butyl vinyl ether and p-methoxystyrene, leading to alternating and nearly alternating copolymers, respectively, and even styrene tended to give almost 1:1 copolymers. Acrylonitrile gave only polyacrylonitrile, and trimethylethylenetricarboxylate did not react with MTFC under free radical conditions. The reaction of MTFC with the electron-rich monomers t-butyl vinyl ether and p-methoxystyrene occurred spontaneously via charge transfer complexes. Thermally, the copolymers were rather stable, those of MTFC more so than those of MDFC.