Polymerization of furfuryl alcohol with trifluoroacetic acid: the influence of experimental conditions

Abstract

Abstract Furfuryl alcohol was polymerized by trifluoroacetic acid in methylene chloride to give a colored polymer. This polymer possesses two main sequences in which the furan rings are connected by methylene groups (sequence 1 ) or by dimethylene ether groups (sequence 2 ). The polymer is not linear but highly branched, as detected by 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. Variations of the experimental conditions, such as the presence of air, the trifluoroacetic acid concentration, the reaction temperature and the solvent, do not allow a significant increase in the linear structure of the polymer. However, an increase in the acid concentration or an increase in temperature produce a decrease in the ether‐bridged structure (sequences 2 ).