Photolysis of perfluoro-alicyclic ketones

Abstract

Photolysis in the gas phase of perfluorocyclo-pentanone, -hexanone, -heptanone, and -octanone at 3130 Å is reported. Migration of fluorine atoms is not observed, and in the case of the pentanone and hexanone, the only products observed were carbon monoxide and a cyclic fluorocarbon. From perfluorocycloheptanone, perfluorocyclohexane, carbon monoxide, perfluorocyclopentane, and tetrafluoroethylene were the photolysis products. Photolysis of the perfluorocyclo-octanone gave rise to perfluorocycloheptane, carbon monoxide, perfluorocyclohexane, perfluorocyclopentane, and tetrafluoroethylene. A mechanism involving diradical intermediates is proposed.