Synthesis and characterization of diethyl-p-vinylbenzyl phosphonate monomer: precursor of ion exchange polymers for fuel cells

Synthesis of diethyl-p-vynilbenzyl phosphonate (DEpVBP) monomer and its homopolymer, precursors of ion exchange materials, are reported. DEpVBP monomer was synthesized by means of Michaelis-Arbusov reaction of p-vinylbenzyl chloride with tryethyl phosphite in the presence of cupric chloride using chlorebenzene as solvent with a yield of 75%. Homopolymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization reaction using AIBN as a free radical initiator at 70 C in DMF. The structures of the compounds were determined from NMR, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. Good thermal stability of homopolymer (up to 200 C) indicates that theses compounds are excellent candidates to be used in the development of new proton exchange membranes for fuel cells.