Tetrafluoroethylene telomerization using dibromohaloethanes as telogens

Carrier mediated telomerization (CMT) between C₂F₄ and bromochlorofluoroethanes has been evaluated in terms of product distributions arising from CMT and ‘normal’ telomerization. The effect of parameters like type of initiator and telogen, TFE pressure and temperature on the reaction has been studied. The peroxide initiated telomerization between dibromohaloethanes and C₂F₄ offers an easy synthetic route to α,ω-dibromo perfluoroalkanes Br(CF₂)_nBr with n = 2, 4, 6 and 8. The selectivity of the CMT products versus those from “normal” telomerization depends mainly on the choice of telogen and on its ability to act as ‘bromine donor’ in the radical telomerization. These perfluoroalkyl dibromides are useful intermediates for other derivatives, for example, perfluorinated mono- and diolefins, Br(CF₂)_nCHCH₂ and CH₂CH(CF₂)_nCHCH₂.