N-alkyl phosphoranimines were synthesized via the Staudinger reaction of four different alkyl azides with tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphite. N-adamantyl, N-benzyl, N-t-butyl, and N-trityl phosphoranimines were thoroughly characterized and evaluated as chain-capping compounds in the anionic polymerization of P-tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-N-trimethylsilyl phosphoranimine monomer. All four compounds reacted with the active chain ends in a bulk polymerization, and the alkyl end groups were identified by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. These compounds effectively controlled the molecular weight of the resulting polyphosphazenes. The chain transfer constants for the monomer and N-benzyl phosphoranimine were determined using Mayo equation.
Keywords: N-alkyl phosphoranimines; N-methylimidazole initiators; anionic; chain-capping agents; fluoride; phosphoramidate esters; polyphosphazenes; trifluoroethoxide.