We report new methods for the late-stage diversification of commodity polymers. A marvel of modern industrial chemistry is the economy of scale at which plastics are produced. In spite of their ubiquity, however, most commodity polymers lack the functionality necessary to solve next-generation challenges in adhesives, membranes, additive manufacturing, and biotechnology. The highly-engineered materials that meet these lofty expectations still face considerable hurdles in their translation from the bench to large-scale production. To address this challenge, we propose to use the modern toolkit of photoredox catalysis and C–H functionalization to modify the structure and enhance the properties of readily available commodity plastics without resorting to <i>de novo </i>synthesis; thus, generating new, functional, and high-value materials from readily available precursors. This concept is demonstrated herein through the late-stage perfluoroalkylation of commodity aromatic polymers. The methods will use simple chemistry to enhance the thermal, mechanical, and/or surface properties of a variety of materials. The anticipated outcomes are twofold: new methods for the selective introduction of fluorinated moieties into a range of commodity polymers, and new materials with a greatly expanded scope of physical properties for next-generation engineering applications.

Late stage diversification of commodity polymers through C-H functionalization methods

254th National Meeting (2017)

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