10.1016/S0022-2860(97)00412-2
The research aimed to determine the molecular structure of perfluoroadamantane using gas-phase electron diffraction. The study sought to examine the structural consequences of hydrogen/fluorine substitution in adamantane, a carbon-cage molecule with high symmetry, by comparing the bond lengths and angles of perfluoroadamantane to those of adamantane. The researchers found that perfluorination expanded the adamantane cage, with a significant lengthening of the C-C bonds by 0.02 ?, attributed to the electron-withdrawing ability of fluorine ligands. The chemicals used in the process included adamantane, sodium fluoride, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, and Freon-113 for extraction, as well as helium for agitation during the electrochemical fluorination process. The final product, perfluoroadamantane, was obtained with a yield of 31.1% based on the sample fed and a purity of 99.3% as confirmed by gas chromatography.