Theoretical study of regioselectivity in methyl radical additions to fluoroethenes

Abstract

Ab initio calculations on the methyl radicals to fluoroethene,1,1-difluoroethene, and trifluoroethene suggest that the observed regioselectivity is the result of a delicate balance between the greater stabilization energy associated with the formation of a C–C bond when the attacked carbon is the most fluorinated one and the larger deformation energy required for this mode of attack.