PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF SOME 2,2,2-TRIFLUOROETHOXY DERIVATIVES OF TITANIUM

The synthesis and characterization of some compounds of titanium(IV) with the formula TiX4-x(ORf)x (where x = 2, 3 for X = Cl; x = 1, 2 for X = isopropoxy and ORf = 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, OCH2CF3) and their adducts with a nitrile (CH3CN, C2H5CN) and the alcohol RfOH are reported. Using an acidity scale based on NMR data, the ligand, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy is compared with other ligands such as chlorine and isopropoxy and the following decreasing order of electron donor ability, OR > ORf > Cl is obtained. Attempts to prepare alkylated compounds pounds RTi(ORf)3 (R = CH3, C6H5CH2) from TiCl(ORf)3 are reported and the cleavage of the titanium carbon bond in these compounds is found to take place readily by action of nucleophilic agents. The reactivity of the titanium oxygen bond of TiORf is tested towards some substitution and insertion reactions. © 1979.