CFC replacement HCFC-133a (CF3CH2Cl) as a convenient precursor for the synthesis of chlorodifluorovinyl-metal derivatives of main group and transition metal elements:: the first X-ray structural characterisation of chlorodifluorovinyl-containing organometallic complexes

The one-pot reaction of the CFC replacement 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (CF3CH2Cl, HCFC-133a) with two equivalents of butyllithium in diethylether at -78 degreesC followed by the addition of main group or transition metal halides results in good yields of the metal-chlorodifluorovinyl-containing compounds R3Sn(CCl=CF2) {R=Me, Et, Bu}, Sn(CCl=CF2)(4), Sb(CCl=CF2)(3), Hg(CCl=CF2)(n)Cl(2-n) (n = 1,2), trans-[Ni(CCl=CF2)(2)(PBu3)(2)], trans-[Pd(CCl=CF2)(2)(PBu3)] and [Au(CCl=CF2)(PPh3)]. The molecular structures of Hg(CCl=CF2)Cl, trans-[Pd(CCl=CF2)(2)(Bu3P)(2)] and [Au(CCl=CF2)(PPh3)] have been obtained from single crystal data; these are the first such structural data to be reported for any chlorodifluorovinyl-containing organometallic complexes. The molecular structure of [Au(CF=CF2)(PPh3)], which was prepared using a similar method based on CF3CH2F (HFC-134a); is also reported and compared with that of the chlorodifluorovinyl analogue. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.