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Updated: Sep 7, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Nonfluorocarbon Fluoropolymers: Synthesis and Properties of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-PF5-Functional Polymers
Rylan A Rowsey1, Julia C Desormeaux1,2, Nathan A Romero1
1Department of Chemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California92093, United States.
Abstract:
Fluorocarbon polymers possess exceptional thermal and chemical stability but present end-of-life challenges because of their longevity and environmental persistence. Here, we report a distinct class of fluorine-rich polymers based on N-heterocyclic carbene-pentafluorophosphorus (NHC-PF5) zwitterions that contain no C-F bonds. These NHC-PF5-functional polymers are thermally robust, exhibiting high glass-transition temperatures and optical clarity that arise from zwitterion-zwitterion interactions. Despite their zwitterionic character, the polymers display hydrophobic surfaces and aqueous insolubility. While chemically stable at ambient temperatures, the NHC-PF5 polymers undergo alkaline hydrolysis at elevated temperatures to generate inorganic fluoride, establishing a pathway for end-of-life fluorine mineralization.
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