SYNTHESIS AND CHEMISTRY OF PERFLUORO-2-IODO-2-METHYL-ALKANES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-1139(00)82019-9

Two novel perfluoro-tert-alkyl iodides CF3(CF2)_n+1C(CF3)2I have been obtained from F-alkenes CF3(CF2)_n-CF=C(CF3)2 (n = 0 and 1) by formal additions of iodine fluoride; these required substantial alterations of known procedures.The F-tert-alkyl iodides are the most reactive alkyl halides known so far, and they are also very toxic.The following types of reactions have been studied: (a) Nucleophilic attack of anions at the iodine, leading to F-alkenes, (b) elimination of iodine fluoride, caused by metals or metal complexes, (c) pyrolysis, to give very selectively F-isobutene and n-perfluoroalkyl iodides, (d) photolysis, and (e) thermally induced insertions into the carbon-iodine bond.Screening results on the inhalation toxicity of the iodides and of some other fluoro-compounds are also reported.