Reactions of fluoroalkyl radicals generated electrochemically. Part 2. Addition of heptafluoropropyl radicals to methyl methacrylate

Abstract

Heptafluoropropyl radicals, generated by the electrolysis of heptafluorobutyric acid, reacted with methyl methacrylate to give a mixture of products of the type R_FCH₂CH(Me)X, R_FCH₂C(Me)(R_F)X, [R_FCH₂C(Me)X]₂ and R_FCHC(Me)X, where R_F= C₃F₇ and X = CO₂Me. Also formed by electrochemical oxidation of the product of the intial radical addition reaction were CH₂C(CH₂R_F)X, (R_FCH₂)₂CHX, and (R_FCH₂)₂C(R_F)X, this being the preferred process. A trimeric and second dimeric product were also formed.