Fluorocarbons are versatile molecules that find applications in a wide range of fields from pharmaceuticals to refrigerants, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Although chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used for decades as non-toxic household refrigerants, propellants, solvents, and foam blowing agents, with the discovery of their ozone-depleting potential, “greener” alternatives such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were developed. More recently, hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs; Figure) have been particularly sought after due to their greatly reduced global warming potential (GWP) vs their saturated analogs. Paradoxically, however, current syntheses of these “green” refrigerants are energy-intensive and require toxic reagents such as heavy metals and anhydrous HF. Organometallic catalysis with Earth-abundant, inexpensive, and non-toxic transition metals is being explored to develop more sustainable, efficient, and safer routes to produce these important molecules. In particular, the functionalization of fluorometallacycles poses a promising alternative synthetic route. While d8 fluorometallacycles have been extensively studied, less attention has been paid to the potential of their d6 congeners. In this work, the reactivity of Cobalt(I)-hydride species towards several fluoroalkenes as a route to “greener” HFO refrigerants will be presented.

Not the same old six and eight: Reactivity of cobalt hydrides with fluoroalkenes

ACS Spring 2022

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