Some physical properties of organic fluorine compounds

1 Some physical properties of organic fluorine compounds 

Organic fluorine compounds often show unusual properties and behavior in comparison with nonfluorinated parent compounds. Thus, we can say, fluorine is a small atom with a big ego. Such big effects have been called fluorine magic. 

There have been many empirical rules and legends on the characteristic properties of organic fluorine, especially in regard to the properties of intermolecular interaction. Some of these are rationalized by theories of physical and/or quantum chemistries, and some of these are just unsubstantiated rumors. Some important effects of the fluorine atom on the properties of organic molecules are comprehensible from a quantum chemical point of view, while most of the effects on the properties of the compounds and materials are complicated by the cooperative work of these effects. 

In this chapter, we first discuss the origin of the effects of the fluorine atom on the basis of the molecular orbital theory. Then, we discuss some specific properties of the fluorinated molecules and materials. This book treats these properties qualitatively. For quantitative discussions and estimations, see the advanced physical chemistry books [1, 2], and, for detailed values of the properties, see the comprehensive summaries [3-5]. 

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