Richard M. Ozark

Methacrylate-capped fluoro side chain siloxanes: Synthesis, characterization, and their use in the design of oxygen-permeable hydrogels

Methacrylate end-capped 3-(2,2,3,3,-tetrafluoropropoxy)propyl, 3-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentoxy)propyl, and 3-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluorotridecoxy)propyl side chain siloxanes were evaluated for potential use in hydrogels for contact lens application. The preparation of the methacrylate end-capped perfluoro side chain siloxanes was accomplished in two relatively simple synthetic steps. The first step consisted of the acid-catalyzed co-ring opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, and 1,3-bis-methacryloxybutyltetramethyldisiloxane, followed by a platinum-catalyzed hydrosilation with the tetrafluoro-, octafluoro-, and dodecafluoro-substituted allylic ethers. The incorporation of the terminal [—CF2—H] functionality had a dramatic effect on the increased solubility of the fluoro siloxane with hydrophilic monomers. Radical bulk polymerization of the methacrylate-capped fluoro side chain siloxanes with hydrophilic monomers, such as dimethylacrylamide and N-vinyl pyrrolidinone, resulted in transparent hydrogels possessing a wide range of water contents, high oxygen permeability, and a low modulus of elasticity.