Novel macrocyclic precursors of poly{aryl ether ketone (sulfone)} containing hexafluoroisopropylidene units: Synthesis, characterization, and polymerization

Cyclic oligomers containing hexafluoroiso-propylidene(HFIP) units were prepared in excellent yields by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of 4,4(7)- (hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol with difluoro-monomers in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate under pseudo high dilution conditions. A combination of GPC, MALDI-TOF MS and NMR analysis confirmed the structure of the cyclic oligomers. All macrocyclic oligomers are crystalline and undergo facile melt polymerization to give high molecular weight fluorinated polyethers.