Abstract: | Treatment of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) with allyltin reagents results in the clean replacement of chlorine by the allyl group under free-radical–chain conditions (AIBN, allyltributyltin), affording about a 10% degree of functionalization. An improved method using one-electron reduction of the polymer with cobalt(II) (generated by reduction of chloro(pyridine)bis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(III) with Mg) and allyltributyltin gives 50% functionalization. Further modification of the allyl group is realized through hydroboration-oxidation to the alcohol and subsequent Cr(VI) oxidation to the acid. A mechanistic discussion is provided. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |