Bi-functional fluoroalkylation reagents: an introduction to halo-substituted 3-oxa-perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluorides

X(CF₂CF₂)_nOCF₂CF₂SO₂F (X=I, Br, Cl; n=1, 2, 3, 4) are widely used fluoroalkylation reagents, which can incorporate ‘heavy’ fluorous tags into organic compounds. X(CF₂CF₂)_nOCF₂CF₂SO₂F have both sulfonyl and halo groups. They behave as bi-functional fluoroalkylation reagents. The cleavage of the C–I bonds of I(CF₂CF₂)_nOCF₂CF₂SO₂F by reductants (such as Na₂S₂O₄, Zn), single electron transfer reagents and radical initiator systems (like Bz₂O₂, AIBN, and (t-BuO)₂, or under UV and heat) gives, respectively, the sulfinatodehalogenated products, the hydrodehalogenated products, the homo-coupling products and the perfluoroalkylated products (if alkenes, alkynes or arenes were added). The functionalization of the sulfonyl groups (SO₂F) of X(CF₂CF₂)_nOCF₂CF₂SO₂F by esterification, amidation, and fluorination affords the corresponding perfluoroalkanesulfonates, fluoroalkanesulfonamide, and perfluoroalkanes. In many cases, both the halo and sulfonyl groups of X(CF₂CF₂)_nOCF₂CF₂SO₂F are transformed. These transformations finally lead to hundreds of useful highly fluorinated materials, such as supper acids, catalysts, surfactants, ion-exchange resins, electrolytes, polymers, and dense ionic liquids. Furthermore, X(CF₂CF₂)_nOCF₂CF₂SO₂F have commendable advantages, such as the easy preparation, the wide range of substrate tolerance, the mild reaction condition, and the high yields of desired products, which make them very promising. This review briefly summarizes the synthesis, reactivity, and applications of these intriguing reagents.