From hexafluoropropylene to perfluoroisobutyronitrile via high-yield and scalable three-step synthesis

Abstract

To replace sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), a potent greenhouse gas with high global warming potential (GWP) and long lifetime, perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C₄F₇N) has emerged as the next-generation insulating gas to advance the development of the power industry, especially gas-insulated equipment. However, most reported synthesis routes for perfluoroisobutyronitrile require expensive reagents or complex procedures and harsh reaction conditions, which are impractical for scalable production and cost reduction for real applications. Herein, we report a three-step synthetic process from perfluoropropylene to perfluoroisobutyronitrile, involving addition with carbonyl fluoride, nucleophilic substitution with ammonia and dehydration. It achieved a 77% total yield of high-purity perfluoroisobutyronitrile (99.9%), which is significantly higher than that of other synthetic routes. This new synthesis process also offers compelling cost benefits and scalable production, which may promote the broader application of C₄F₇N.