This application is directed to novel fluorinated polymers and prepolymers
derived from mono-substituted oxetane monomers having fluorinated
alkoxymethylene side-chains and the method of making these compositions.
The mono-substituted fluorinated oxetane monomers having fluorinated
alkoxymethylene side-chains are prepared in high yield by the reaction of
a fluorinated alkoxides with either 3-halomethyl-3-methyloxetane
premonomers or aryl sulfonate derivative of
3-hydroxymethyl-3-methyloxetane premonomers. Preparation of a
mono-substituted 3-bromomethyl-3-methyloxetane premonomer via a simple,
high yield process amenable to commercial scaleup is also disclosed. The
fluorinated oxetane monomers of this invention can be readily
homo/co-polymerized in the presence of a Lewis acid and polyhydroxy
compounds to obtain hydroxy-terminated polyether prepolymers having
fluorinated alkoxymethylene side chains. Additionally, the fluorinated
oxetane monomers can be copolymerized with non-fluorinated monomers such
as tetrahydrofuran to give polyether prepolymers with improved
hydrocarbon compatibility. These prepolymers are polydisperse and exhibit
number average molecular weights from 5,000 to about 50,000. These
prepolymers are amorphous oils with primary hydroxy end-groups and thus
function efficiently as the soft block for the synthesis of a variety of
thermoset/thermoplastic elastomers and plastics having the
characteristics of very low surface energy, high hydrophobicity, low
glasss transition temperature and low coefficient of friction. The
polyurethanes derived from the prepolymers of this invention are
elastomeric and, in addition to the above characteristics, exhibit high
moisture resistance, high tear strength and excellent adhesion to a
variety of substrates.