Use of telechelic fluorinated diiodides to obtain well-defined fluoropolymers

Different methods of synthesis involved in the preparation of fluorinated telechelics (or ,ω-difunctional compounds) from ,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes for obtaining well-defined fluoropolymers are described. This review focuses on molecules in which fluorinated chains are located on the backbone and not in a lateral position. First, a bibliographical approach develops the syntheses of ,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes (1) either by chemical transformations of telechelic derivatives or by telomerisation of fluoroolefins with molecular iodine or diiodoperfluoroalkanes. Then, fluorotelechelics are synthesised by means of four different processes: (a) by the chemical change in the presence of metalic salts; (b) from the bismonoaddition of 1 to ω-functional unsaturated derivatives; (c) from the bis(monoethylenation) of 1 followed by difunctionalisation (e.g., nucleophilic substitution); (d) from the coupling reactions between 1 and -iodo-ω-functional reactants. Finally, this review describes how several well-defined fluoropolymers can be produced from these fluorinated telechelics. Their specific chemical, physical and thermal properties are discussed with regard to modern industrial requirements.