Non-Metal Based Perfluoroalkoxides for New Fluoropolymeric Materials, Theranostics, Pharmaceuticals, and Catalysts

工作性质：氟化盐-通常被称为全氟化烷氧化合物(PFA)-被认为很难制备，因此限制了它们在许多研究领域的使用。2013年，我们的团队开发了一种简单的反应，弥合了氟化学中的这一差距。现在可以研究PFA的性质和许多应用。我们已经发现了一种使用廉价、安全和易于使用的试剂，一步即可容易地形成无水四烷基铵PFA的方法。特别是，我们发现氢氟醚(HFES；即商业制冷剂)与胺反应生成PFA。*研究为什么重要以及对谁重要：全氟聚合物预计将在四个重要行业产生影响：a)含氟聚合物行业需要可加入到可生物降解聚合物中的积木(至少具有两个活性官能团的含氟单体)，以改善性能并保持环境平衡。利用我们的技术，我们将合成PFA，用于生产适用于保护涂料、表面活性剂和贵金属回收装置的聚合物。B)医疗行业需要更好的诊断和治疗药物输送设备(即治疗药物)，以提供个性化的病人护理和亲脂性药物。在PFA的严格控制下，我们将创建聚合工具，应用于这一重要的患者护理领域。在亲脂性药物制造的后期阶段掺入PFA的新方法是可取的。拥有可使用的PFA扩大了药物设计的选择范围，并使这一过程变得更便宜(目前40%的药物含有氟)。C)电子工业的化学气相沉积金属层用于半导体(光伏/集成电路)。PFA可用于挥发金属以及不可燃锂电池的成型材料。D)能源行业需要使燃料来源多样化。与过渡金属结合的全氟辛烷磺酸可以产生新的催化剂。这些新的催化剂可以影响石油重整过程(将物质从低辛烷值转化为高辛烷值燃料)或燃料生成(聚合天然植物产品以制造生物聚合物或燃料)。*预期成果：在我们未来六年的研究中，我们将：*A)开发新的HFES，可用于生成用于新材料的双功能含氟聚合物(遥螺旋全氟聚烷基醚，PFPAE)；*B)了解PFA作为过渡金属形成催化剂的配体的稳定性；*C)将PFA连接到芳烃上，以促进药物设计的后期氟化。*总结而言，我们将开发具有针对性的新材料、工业过程和制药的新型PFA。*

NATURE OF THE WORK: Fluorinated salts- usually known as perfluorinated alkoxides (PFAs)-are believed to be difficult to prepare, thus inhibiting their use in many research fields. In 2013, our group developed a simple reaction that bridges this gap in fluorine chemistry. The properties and many applications of PFAs can now be studied. We have discovered a route to readily form anhydrous tetra-alkylammonium PFAs in a single step using inexpensive, safe, and easy-to-use reagents. In particular, we have found that hydrofluoroethers (HFEs; i.e. commercial refrigerants) react with amines to generate PFAs. ***WHY AND TO WHOM THE RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT: PFAs are expected to have an impact in four important industries: A) The fluoropolymer industry requires building blocks (fluoromonomers with at least two reactive functional groups) which can be incorporated into biodegradable polymers to improve performance yet maintain environmental balance. With our techniques we will synthesize PFAs for producing polymers which are suitable as protective coatings, surfactants, and devices to recycle precious metals. B) The medical industry has a need for better diagnostic and therapeutic drug delivery devices (i.e. theranostics) for personalized patient care and lipophilic drugs. With PFA's exacting control, we will create polymeric tools to be applied to this important area of patient care. New methods in late-stage incorporation of PFAs in lipophilic drug manufacturing are desirable. Having useable PFAs expands options in drug design and makes the process cheaper (40% of current drugs contain fluorine). C) The electronic industry chemically vapor-deposits metals in layers for semiconductors (photovoltaics/integrated circuits). PFA could be used to volatilize metals as well as forming materials for non-flammable lithium batteries. D) The energy industry has a need to diversify fuel sources. PFAs bound to transition metals could generate new catalysts.  These new catalysts can impact the petroleum reformation processes (converting material from low octane to high octane fuels) or fuel generation (polymerization of natural plant products to make bio-polymers or fuels). ***ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES: In our research for the next six years, we will: ***A) Develop new HFEs which can be used to generate difunctional fluoropolymers (telechelic perfluoropolyalkylethers, PFPAEs) for new materials;***B) Understand the stability of PFAs as a ligand with transition metals for catalyst formation;***C) Attach PFAs to aromatics for advancing late-stage fluorination in drug design.***In summary, we will develop new PFAs with targeted properties for new materials, industrial processes, and pharmaceuticals.********