REACTIONS OF POLY(DIFLUOROPHOSPHAZENE) WITH ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS.

The synthesis of a soluble form of poly(difluorophosphazene), (NPF//2 )//n , has allowed for the preparation of a new class of organophosphazenes that have the general structure left bracket NP(R)//x (OCH//2 CF//3 )//y right bracket //n , where R equals phenyl, ethyl or butyl. These polymers were synthesized by the reactions of the (NPF//2 )//n with organolithium or organomagnesium compounds. Complete fluorine removal was accomplished by the use of sodium trifluoroethoxide as a second nucleophile. The existence of a chain-cleavage process and, in some cases a cross-linking reaction, prevented the synthesis of organic soluble, high molecular weight polymers that possessed exclusively aryl or alkyl substituents. Nevertheless, poly(difluorophosphazene) has been shown to exhibit greater resistance to chain cleavage processes by organometallic reagents than poly(dichlorophosphazene).