Rhodium Complexes Enable Perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) Activation via Decarbonylation, C–F and C–O Bond Cleavage
The Braun group investigated the activation of perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) at rhodium (I) phosphine complexes. The unprecedented reactivity pathways led to metal- and phosphine-mediated decarbonylation reactions. In both processes, the trifluoromethoxy anion was formed that subsequently transformed into CO, fluoride ion, and fluorophosgene. At rhodium, trifluoroethylene was produced, while the phosphine-mediated pathway likely resulted in the formation of tetrafluoroethylene. These studies offer important insights into the reactivity of perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether), which belongs to the PFAS family. Decarbonylation processes enable its decomposition and broaden the scope for fluorinated fragment transformations.
Link to the original publication:
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/sc/d5sc02056e