Fluorine

Welcome to the Fluorine themed issue of Dalton Transactions. This issue attempts to convey the broad range of fundamental fluorine chemistry, spanning materials, main group chemistry, synthetic methodology, organometallics and ligand design.

A number of papers describe the synthesis and/or structural characterisation of metal fluorides. Kemnitz et al. provide a perspective article on nanoscale metal fluorides (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT00914F) and a paper detailing the synthesis route of MgF₂ particles (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02196K). Hazendonk, Gerken et al. have determined the structure of trimethyltin fluoride, using solid state NMR spectroscopy (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01994J). Whittlesey et al. report stoichiometric and catalytic C–F bond activation of Ru–NHC complexes (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01996F). C–F bond activation at sp² centres by Nb is reported by Arnold et al.(DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02082D). Ichikawa et al. describes catalytic defluorinative [3 + 2] cycloaddition involving nickel(II) fluorides (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02160J). Tysonite-type solid solutions La_1−xBa_xF et al. are reported by Demourgues et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02321A). Axial fluoride binding by lanthanide complexes is disclosed by Faulkner et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02398J).

Several papers on fluorinated anions are included. Salehzadeh and Gholiee report host–guest chemistry of fluoride anions (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01965F). Silver complexes with fluorinated anions are reported by Malinowski, Kurzydłowski and Grochala (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02004B), as well as by Fang, Li, Weng et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02078F). Jaroń, Grochala et al. report highly fluorinated weakly coordinating anions as precursors to hydrogen storage materials (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02005K).

Fluorinated ligands have a dramatic effect on the reactivity of transition metal complexes. Vicic et al. describe perfluoroalkyl nickel complexes ranging from +2 to +4 oxidation states (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01771H). Crespo, Font-Bardia and Martinez report on the effect of fluorinated ligands on the formation of [C,N]-platinacycles (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01926E). Korenaga describes new fluorinated ligands for direct arylation reactions (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01991E). Schwenk and Togni describes new fluorinated ligands for Ir-catalysed hydrogenation (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02019K). Schafer and Love report isocyanate deinsertion to form new perfluoroaryl rhodium(I) complexes (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01981H). Bazzi, Gladysz et al. describe fluorous analogues of iron-sulfur clusters (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01959A). Gold trifluoromethyl complexes are described by Gil-Rubio and Vicente (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02023A). Hughes et al. report the synthesis and reactivity of iridium complexes bearing a fluorinated carbene (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02075A and DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02275D). Kvíčala et al. report NHC ligands bearing polyfluoroalkyl groups (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02258D). Braun et al. reveal platinum compounds bearing a β-fluorovinyl ligand (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02306H). C–F bond activation of perfluoronickelacyclopentanes is described by Baker et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02912K).

Fluoroborates are also featured. Rojas et al. describe the synthesis of boron amidines using B(C₆F₅)₃ (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT01966D). Capriati et al. describe self-assembly with organotrifluoroborates (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02020D). The preparation of polyfluorinated dodecaboranes is reported by Finze et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02055G).

Brisdon et al. reveal the preparation of new perfluoropropenyl-based phosphines from hydrofluoroolefins (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02043C). Hu et al. report that fluoroepoxides undergo catalytic 1,2-fluorine migration (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02088C). The reactivity of trifluoromethanesulfonyl hypervalent iodonium ylides for trifluoromethylthiolation of allyl alcohols and boronic acids is described by Shibata et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02214B). Perfluoroalkylations are described by Mikami et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03039K), Yagupolskii C5DT02925B (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02925B), and Budnikova (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03009A).

Oxygen fluorides are described in a paper by Marx and Seppelt (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02247A). The synthesis and optical properties of subphthalocyanine homo- and heterodimers are reported by Shibata et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02279G). Magnier et al. report Zr-based MOFs with alkyl and perfluoroalkyl groups (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02908B). A fluorous copper(II) complex that acts as a catalyst and surfactant was reported by Mignard, Vincent et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C5DT02039E).

Overall, I hope that this issue represents the broad range of fundamental chemistry relating to fluorine. I would like to thank all of the contributors for including their exciting research in this issue and the Dalton Transactions staff for their efforts in bringing this issue to publication.

---