EXPLORATION OF GRADIENT-TYPE POLY(ARYLENE ETHER)S VIA AN ABB' MONOMER SYSTEM

by Dolgov, Alex V.

Dolgov, Alex. MS., Department of Chemistry, Wright State University, 2008. Exploration of Gradient-type Poly(arylene ether)s via an ABB' Monomer System. Evidence shows that a gradient like copolymer can be synthesized using nucleophilic aromatic substitution, NAS, chemistry. Using the 4-chloro-3-fluoro-4'hydroxydiphenylsulfone monomer, 5, it is possible to control the ratios of the leaving groups, in this case the fluorine and the chlorine, with the right solvent and temperature. Alternating the temperatures will alter the substitution of the leaving groups, thus forming a polymer backbone of gradient characteristics. Initial reactions to determine the relative rates of displacement of the chlorine and fluorine atoms were carried out using a model compound, 1, which possessed the chlorine and fluorine leaving groups, but not the phenol group. Determining the pattern of leaving group substitution was characterized using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy.