Telomerization of vinylidene fluoride with alkyl (or aryl) trifluoromethanethiosulfonates

The photochemical‐induced telomerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) with cyclohexyl (or phenyl) trifluoromethanethiosulfonate (CF₃SO₂SR), leading to CF₃(VDF)_nSR telomers, where R stands for cyclohexyl or phenyl, is presented. These sulfurated transfer agents were synthesized by the reaction between sodium triflinate (CF₃SO₂Na) and disulfide in the presence of bromine. ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy enabled an assessment of the average degrees of telomerization (DP_n) of these telomers with a neat CF₃ end group as the label. These DP_n values increased for higher [VDF]₀/[CF₃SO₂SR]₀ initial molar ratios. Interestingly, the normal/reversed ratio of VDF units in these telomers was low. Finally, the cotelomerization of VDF and hexafluoropropylene with these transfer agents was successfully achieved, leading to original ω‐CF₃ fluoroelastomers, the thermal properties of which were investigated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4538–4549, 2002