Fluorinated resorcinol and hydroquinone analogs as curing agents for fluoroelastomers

A curable fluoroelastomer composition comprising:

• a polyhydroxy-curable fluoroelastomer;
• a curing agent of Formula 1:
• wherein R1 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, C1-18 alkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated, C1-18 alkoxy which may be partially or fully halogenated, and X;
• wherein R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of OH, H, halogen, C1-18 alkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated, C1-18 alkoxy which may be partially or fully halogenated, and X,
• with the proviso that at least one of R2, R3, and R4 is OH;
• with the proviso that not more than 3 of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are halogen;
• wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Formula 2 and Formula 3:
• wherein R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-18 alkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated, C1-18 alkoxy which may be partially or fully halogenated, partially or fully fluorinated phenyl, acetyl or methylsulfonyl which may be alkyl- or aryl-substituted or partially or fully halogenated, nitro, nitrile, and halogen, with the proviso that N may be substituted at exactly one of C2, C3, or C4 in which case respective R6, R7, or R8 is absent;
• wherein R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-18 alkyl which may be partially or fully halogenated, C1-18 alkoxy which may be partially or fully halogenated, nitro, nitrile, and halogen with the proviso that one of R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 is a single bond to —(Y)n—;
• wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of —SO2—, —C(O)—, —C(CF3)2—, and —O—;
• and
• wherein n is 0 or 1;
• with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5, is fluorine, a fluorine-containing C1-18 alkyl, a fluorine-containing C1-18 alkoxy, or X;
• with the proviso that, when X is present and none of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 is fluorine, a fluorine-containing C1-18 alkyl, or a fluorine-containing C1-18 alkoxy, at least one of R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 is fluorine, a fluorine-containing C1-18 alkyl, or a fluorine-containing C1-18 alkoxy;
• and
• an acid acceptor.