Fluorination of poly(p-phenylene) using TbF4 as fluorinating agent

The fluorination using TbF4 as fluorinating agent was successfully performed on poly(p-phenylene). The method allows the fluorine content of the polymer to be controlled and the formation of structural defects, such as dangling bonds, to be significantly decreased by comparison with the direct fluorination using pure F2 gas. The aromatic character of the phenyl ring is partly maintained through the fluorination contrary to the direct fluorination (using pure F2 gas), for which a quasi-perfluorination and a partial decomposition of the polymer occur. Complementary analytical techniques have been used, such as 19F and 13C solid state NMR, FT-IR and EPR to compare the samples as a function of the reaction conditions.