Selective dehydrofluorination of 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb) to 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HFO-1233xf) using nanoscopic aluminium fluoride catalysts at mild conditions

An amorphous Lewis-acidic zirconium chlorofluoride as HF shuttle: C-F bond activation and formation

An exceptional HF transfer reaction by C-F bond activation of fluoropentane and a subsequent hydrofluorination of alkynes at room temperature is reported. An amorphous Lewis-acidic Zr chlorofluoride serves as heterogeneous catalyst, which is characterised by an eightfold coordination environment at Zr including chlorine atoms. The studies are seminal in establishing sustainable fluorine chemistry.

Theoretical Study on the Lewis Acidity of the Pristine AlF3 and Cl-Doped α-AlF3 Surfaces

In the past two decades, metal fluorides have gained importance in the field of heterogenous catalysis of bond activation reaction, e.g., hydrofluorination. One of the most investigated metal fluorides is AlF3. Together with its chlorine-doped analogon aluminiumchlorofluoride (AlClxF3−x, x = 0.05–0.3; abbreviated ACF), it has attracted much attention due to its application in catalysis. Various surface models for α-AlF3 and their chlorinated analogues (as representatives of amorphous ACF) are investigated with respect to their Lewis acidity of the active centres. First-principle density functional theory (DFT) methods with dispersion correction are used to determine the adsorption structure and energy of the probe molecules CO and NH3. The corresponding vibrational frequency shift agrees well with the measured values. With this insight we predict the local structure of the active sites and can clarify the importance of secondary interactions to the local anionic surrounding of the catalytic site.

Activation of pentafluoropropane isomers at a nanoscopic aluminum chlorofluoride: hydrodefluorination versus dehydrofluorination

The hydrofluorocarbon 245 isomers, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2,2- pentafluoropropane, and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa, HFC-245cb, and HFC-245eb) were activated through C–F bond activations using aluminium chlorofluoride (ACF) as a catalyst. The addition of the hydrogen source Et₃SiH is necessary for the activation of the secondary and tertiary C–F bonds. Multiple C–F bond activations such as hydrodefluorinations and dehydrofluorinations were observed, followed by hydroarylation and Friedel–Crafts-type reactions under mild conditions.

Theoretical and experimental investigation on decomposition mechanism of eco-friendly insulation gas HFO1234zeE

Decomposition experiments under corona discharge and theoretical calculations using the density functional theory (DFT) method were accomplished to clarify the dissociation behavior and decomposition mechanism of HFO1234zeE (trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene), an eco-efficient SF₆ alternative gas. The discharge decomposition products of HFO are mainly fluorocarbon, unsaturated hydrocarbon and saturated hydrocarbons, which are containing no more than three carbons. Free radicals, CF₃·, F· and H·, generated via bond-cleavage reaction are important structures to promote the decomposition, and HFO is more likely to dissociate with them by abstraction reaction to form CF₄ and CF₃H. Long-chain radicals, such as CF₃CHCF·, CF₃CHCH· and CF₃CCHF·, will be decomposed into CF₃CCH and CF₃CCF, and small intermediates would be easier to combine to form HF, C₂F₆, C₂F₄, C₂HF₅, CF₃HCF₃H and C₃F₈. It is also likely to be converted to Z-isomer. Due to the high discharge intensity and ion bombardment, solid by-products appeared on the electrode surface may contain carbon dust and metal compounds. The solid attached to the surface has little effect on the electric field distribution, and most gas decomposition products still maintain the insulation strength, so the air-gap breakdown voltage only dropped by about 6.2% after long-term corona discharge. The obtained results not only reveal the decomposition mechanism in a comprehensive way, but also present useful reference for exploring the application potentials of HFO1234zeE.

A HF Loaded Lewis-Acidic Aluminium Chlorofluoride for Hydrofluorination Reactions

The very strong Lewis acid aluminium chlorofluoride (ACF) was loaded with anhydrous HF. The interaction between the surface of the catalyst and HF was investigated using a variety of characterization methods, which revealed the formation of polyfluorides. Moreover, the reactivity of the HF-loaded ACF towards the hydrofluorination of alkynes was studied.