Fluorous phase separation techniques

The strategy of using two phases, one of which is an aqueous phase, has now been extended to fluorous . systems where perfluorinated solvents are used which are immiscible with many organic reactants nonaqueous ionic liquids have also been considered. Thus, toluene and fluorosolvents form two phases at room temperature but are soluble at 64 °C, and therefore,. solvent separation becomes easy (Klement et ai, 1997). For hydrogenation and oxo reactions, however, these systems are unlikely to compete with two-phase systems involving an aqueous pha.se. Recent work of Richier et al. (2000) refers to high rates of hydrogenation of alkenes with fluoro versions of Wilkinson s catalyst. De Wolf et al. (1999) have discussed the application and potential of fluorous phase separation techniques for soluble catalysts. 

E. de Wolf, G. van Koten and B.-J. Deelman (1999) Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 28, p. 37 - Fluorous phase separation techniques in catalysis . 

Figure 6.2 Separation of products by (a) cyclic anhydrides as acyl donors and (b) fluorous phase technique.

Tris[(2-perfluorohexyl)ethyl]tin hydride has three perfluorinated segments with ethylene spacers and it partitions primarily (> 98%) into the fluorous phase in a liquid-liquid extraction. This feature not only facilitates the purification of the product from the tin residue but also recovers toxic tin residue for further reuse. Stoichiometric reductive radical reactions with the fluorous tin hydride 3 have been previously reported and a catalytic procedure is also well established. The reduction of adamantyl bromide in BTF (benzotrifluoride) " using 1.2 equiv of the fluorous tin hydride and a catalytic amount of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was complete in 3 hr (Scheme 1). After the simple liquid-liquid extraction, adamantane was obtained in 90% yield in the organic layer and the fluorous tin bromide was separated from the fluorous phase. The recovered fluorous tin bromide was reduced and reused to give the same results. Phenylselenides, tertiary nitro compounds, and xanthates were also successfully reduced by the fluorous fin hydride. Standard radical additions and cyclizations can also be conducted as shown by the examples in Scheme 1. Hydrostannation reactions are also possible, and these are useful in the techniques of fluorous phase switching. Carbonylations are also possible. Rate constants for the reaction of the fluorous tin hydride with primary radicals and acyl radicals have been measured it is marginally more reactive than tributlytin hydrides. ... 

Cornils, B. (1997) Fluorous biphase systems - the new phase-separation and immobilization technique. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl, 36, 2057. 

Another biphasic technique uses a fluorinated substance (fluorous phase), which is immiscible with water and most non-fluorinated solvents at room temperature, but which can form a single phase at higher temperatures. Products can thus be separated at room temperature and the soluble catalyst recycled. One such catalyst is made by adding two perfluorinated chains to dba, a classic palladium(0) ligand. 

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