N-heterocyclic carbene copper complexes catalyze the C1 polymerization of substituted diazomethanes

The C1 polymerization of substituted diazomethanes, including diazoethane and 2,2,2-trifluoromethyl diazomethane, are reported. N-heterocyclic carbene copper complexes were employed as catalysts for the polymerization reactions and afforded the corresponding persubstituted polymers containing methyl or trifluoromethyl units along the backbones of the polymer products. The polymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography, a variety of spectroscopic and thermal techniques, and contact angle measurements. Polymers prepared using the C1 polymerization methodology described herein are more hydrophobic than related polymers that were obtained using a standard C2 polymerization method and the fluorinated polymers were determined to be more hydrophobic than their hydrogenated analogues. The relationship between fluorine content and wettability of persubstituted polymers was quantified.