Defluorination of Olefins
Tetrafluoropropenes are used as refrigerants and blowing agents in industry. They have zero ozone depletion potential and a very low global warming potential. The current study deals with consecutive C-F and C-H bond activation reactions of (Z)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. The Braun group has developed unprecedented dehydrofluorination reaction steps in the coordination sphere of rhodium. Model studies suggest a fluorovinylidene complex to be an intermediate to give an alkynyl complex by HF elimination. The paper demonstrates the applicability of rhodium complexes for the depletion of fluorinated compounds, but also for upcycling to generate fluorinated building blocks.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/sc/d1sc06713c