SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRIBLOCK PERFLUOROALKYLALKANES (PFAA) AS MODELS FOR SEMIFLEXIBLE POLYMERS.

An interest in understanding the structure and dynamics of semiflexible polymers has led us to the synthesis and characterization of a series of semifluorinated n-alkanes. In particular, questions raised about the conformation of the -(CH//2)- segment of the triblocks pertained to the existence of a critical length, at which deviation from the characteristic trans planar structure of n-alkanes might occur.