Synthesis of a macromolecular ligand by the modification of polystyrene

Uncrosslinked atactic polystyrene was chemically modified first by acetylation then by a Claisen condensation with ethyl perfluoropropanoate to produce three crosslinked chelating polymers that contained a phenyl, perfluoroethyl, beta-diketone chelating group in 10, 20, and 63 mole % compositions. Cu(II), Ni(II), and uranyl chelates of the macromolecular ligands were prepared and analyzed. The macromolecular ligands and their chelates were compared with the model ligating species 4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-pentanedione with infrared and mass spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance