RECENT ADVANCES IN FLUOROHETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY

This chapter deals with polyfluoroheterocycles. It essentially describes the six-membered ring heterocycles and complements a review by Burger that covers fluorine-containing five-membered heterocyclic rings. In specific, the chapter illustrates the literature from 1981 to date. It considers updating the review of Chambers and Sargent on polyfluoroheterocyclic chemistry as well as bringing out other aspects of fluoroheterocycles. The process of synthesis of polyfluoroheterocycles can be essentially separated into three sections, depending on whether fluorine or polyfluoroalkyl group is introduced into a heterocycle, or whether the heterocycle is formed from fluorinated synthons. Several uses of fluorinated heterocycles are reported. Trifluoromethyl pyridines are useful building blocks for agrochemicals. A new class of fluoropolymers based on the bis-2,2-(trifluoromethyl)-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxole structure offers the usual properties expected from fluoropolymers together with good optical clarity and high glass transition temperature. Also the ease of displacement of fluorine from polyfluoroheterocycles creates a lot of interest in their introduction into fiber-reactive dyes. The chapter also describes the properties and reactions of the fluoroheterocycles compounds. © 1994 Academic Press Inc.