Electrosynthesis of trifluoroethene and difluoroethene from 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane

Chlorotrifluoroethene has been the unique product described in the literature from the electroreduction of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 113). In this work, preliminary results on new electrosynthetic possibilities of the electroreduction of CFC 113 on Pb and Cd cathodes in MeOH-H2O solutions containing ammonium salts and different cations are reported. The essential result was that trifluoroethene, difluoroethene, difluoroethane and fluoroethane were produced instead of chlorotrifluoroethene when Pd salts were added into the electrolyte. The use of a hydrogen diffusion anode permitted to conduct the electrosynthesis in a monocompartimental cell without undesirable byproducts. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.