Janus Face All-cis 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)- and All-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(trifluoromethyl)- Cyclohexanes

We report the synthesis of all-cis 1,2,4,5-tetrakis (trifluoromethyl)- and all-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis (trifluoromethyl)- cyclohexanes by direct hydrogenation of precursor tetrakis- or hexakis- (trifluoromethyl)benzenes. The resultant cyclohexanes have a stereochemistry such that all the CF₃ groups are on the same face of the cyclohexyl ring. All-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclohexane is the most sterically demanding of the all-cis hexakis substituted cyclohexanes prepared to date, with a barrier (ΔG) to ring inversion calculated at 27 kcal mol^?1. The X-ray structure of all-cis 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclohexane displays a flattened chair conformation and the electrostatic profile of this compound reveals a large diffuse negative density on the fluorine face and a focused positive density on the hydrogen face. The electropositive hydrogen face can co-ordinate chloride (K≈10³) and to a lesser extent fluoride and iodide ions. Dehydrofluorination promoted decomposition occurs with fluoride ion acting as a base.