N-FLUOROBIS[(PERFLUOROALKYL)SULFONYL]IMIDES - REACTIONS WITH SOME OLEFINS VIA ALPHA-FLUORO CARBOCATIONIC INTERMEDIATES

N-Fluorobis(perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl]imides are a new class of electrophilic fluorinating agents. Reaction of (CF3SO2)2NF (1) with olefins gave various products, depending on the reaction conditions and the structure of the substrate. In solvents of higher nucleophilicity such as H2O, acetic acid, aqueous HCl, and (HF)(n)Py, alpha-fluorohydrins or their acetates, alpha,beta-chlorofluoro- and alpha,beta-difluoroalkanes were obtained. In acetic acid, trans-stilbene and tetraphenylethylene produced the rearranged, nonfluorinated aldehyde and ketone. Evidence is presented for the reactions proceeding via a one-electron transfer mechanism involving alpha-fluorocarbocationic intermediates.