Synthesis and derivatives of tetrafluorocyclopropene

Abstract

Tetrafluorocyclopropene has been isolated, in low yield, from the photolysis products of hexafluorocyclobutene, and synthesised by dechlorination of 1,2-dichlorotetrafluorocyclopropane. The latter, which could be separated into its two geometrical isomers, was obtained by addition of difluorocarbene to 1,2-dichlorodifluoroethylene. Tetrafluorocyclopropene was hydrolysed by water and gave tetraphenylcyclopropene on treatment with phenyl-lithium; it gave a Diels–Alder adduct with furan and underwent a thermal reaction to give two dimers, which have been characterised, and three trimers and a tetramer of unknown structure. 1-Chlorotrifluorocyclopropene was also prepared, in a similar way, from trichlorofluoroethylene.