Free-radical approaches to new fluorocarbon derivatives

This thesis is concerned with the free-radical addition of nitrogen, silicon and oxygen containing compounds to fluoroalkenes and the chemistry of some of the adducts produced. Free-radical adducts of many amines cannot be produced directly since nucleophilic attack on the fluoroalkene is often the preferred reaction pathway. An alternative route to primary and secondary mono-amine adducts via N-trimethylsilylamines has been developed. An alternative synthesis of di-amine adducts via amides has met with some success. Free-radical additions of organosilicon compounds to fluoroalkenes have produced a variety of fluorosilicon adducts. The chemistry of some of these adducts has been investigated. Work with mono- and di-oxygen functional compounds has provided information on the scope and limitations of this type of free-radical addition reaction. The dehydrofluorination of ether/hexafluoropropene mono- and di-adducts has been investigated and some novel dienes have been produced. Polymers containing amide or ether groups added to hexafluoropropene under free-radical conditions. The use of a solvent dramatically increased the degree of this incorporation. The electrochemical fluorination of cyclic ether/hexafluoropropene di-adducts has been investigated. Good recoveries of highly fluorinated products were obtained, indicating that these types of adducts are good starting materials for electrochemical fluorination.