Electrochemical fluorination of carboxylic acids in presence of fluoride anion

Abstract

1. The electrolysis of carboxylic acids at a Ni anode in the presence of F− anion results in their decarboxylation and the subsequent exhaustive fluorination of the adsorbed alkyl radical. 2. The electrochemical oxidation of the adsorbed alkyl radicals with a branched carbon chain is accompanied by less destruction when compared with straight-chain radicals. 3. The adsorbed alkyl radicals are partially isomerized during fluorination; straightchain perfluorocarbons are formed from branch radicals to a greater degree than the reverse transformation of straight-chain alkyl radicals to isoperfluorocarbons.