Coupling between a fluorinated olefin and a perfluorinated iodide: a model study on the reaction mechanism of perfluorinated polymer cross-linking

In a model study, , , - and - correlated NMR techniques confirm a Markovnikov type reaction intermediate for the major coupling products between a short, low MW perfluorinated iodide C₂F₅I (I) and a short, low MW fluorinated olefin CF₃(CF₂)₇CHCH₂ (II). The reaction is peroxide induced (di-t-butyl peroxide, DTBP) and is conducted at 140 °C for a 3 h reaction time in a sealed glass ampoule. Side reaction products due to the reaction of DTBP with radical reaction intermediates were also observed and identified. The study aimed to mimic as closely as possible the peroxide-initiated coupling reaction between an iodine terminated fluoropolymer (model compound I) and its fluorinated di-olefin coupling agent (model compound II). A mono-olefin was chosen to simplify the model reaction.