Solvent effects organic fluoride formation

The formation of organic fluorides has been a difficult undertaking. However, an investigation of the effect of the solvent, leaving group, and source of the fluoride ion has shown that using tetrabutylammonium fluoride or CsF in r-amyl alcohol is able to convert arene sulfonates into fluorides rapidly at 90 °C in excellent yields (>80%).65 Since the half-life of 18F is only 110 min, this is an important advance as it allows one to label compounds with 18F for PET studies. 

The polymerization temperature has a pronounced effect on the degree of polymerization and on the structure of the products. Polymers prepared at high temperatures are reported to be branched and of lower molar mass. Increasing pressure increases the rate of polymerization and favors the formation of high-molar-mass polymer. If organic solvents, especially alcohols, are used as a polymerization medium instead of water, a high tendency of telomerization of vinyl fluoride accompanied by a drastic reduction of molar mass is observed [457]. 

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