Radical additions to fluoroolefins. Photochemical fluoroalkylation of alkanols and alkane diols with perfluoro vinyl ethers; photo-supported O-alkylation of butane-1,4-diol with hexafluoropropene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-1139(96)03514-2

Butane-1,4-diol was fluoroalkylated by its photoaddition reactions with hexafluoropropene and perfluoro (propyl vinyl) ether under atmospheric pressure, by which monofluoroalkylated and bis-fluoroalkylated products were obtained. 1,3-Diols were completely unreactive under the conditions. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol, tert.butyl alcohol and methyl tert.butyl ether appeared to be inert solvents for the additions while acetonitrile quenched the reactions. The reactivity of perfluoro vinyl ethers was studied ( tested) in their photoaddition reactions with alkanols that were less regioselective (up to 7% rel.of regioisomer) in comparison with hexafluoropropene. Surprisingly, photo-supported base-induced nucleophilic mono-and bis-addition of butane-1,4-diol onto hexafluoropropene was observed in acetonitrile.