Reactions in Fluorous Solvents

Abstract

Fluorinated compounds with appropriate melting and boiling points can be used as solvents. The character of fluorinated solvents is dependent on the percentage of fluorine contained in these compounds. Highly fluorinated solvents such as perfluorohexanes are often immiscible with common organic solvents, and form a fluorous phase. In this chapter, these solvents are termed pure fluorous. On the other hand, less fluorinated solvents like benzotrifluoride (BTF) are miscible with organic solvents as well as pure fluorous solvents. These solvents, called hybrid or amphiphilic solvents, act in the same manner as common organic solvents; however their fluorous character remains and often shows itself during organic reactions by promoting reactivity or selectivity of the processes. This chapter focuses on how pure fluorous and hybrid solvents are utilized in organic reactions. It describes some specific examples of the solvents. Keywords: benzotrifluoride; fluorous solvents; hybrid solvent; organic solvents