Fluorination of perfluoroalkylsulfenyl chlorides,perfluorodialkyl disulfides and perfluorodialkyl sulfides with chlorine monofluoride

In reactions with perfluoroalkylsulfenyl chlorides (R_fSCl; R_f = F₃, C₂F₅, n-C₃F₇, n-C₄F₉) and perfluoroalkyl disulfides (R_fSSR_f′; R_f = R_f′ = CF₃, R_f = CF₃, R_f′ = C₂F₅) at 25°, chlorine monofluoride acts primarily as a chlorinating and fluorinating reagent to give the corresponding perfluoroalkylsulfur chloride tetrafluorides, R_fSF₄Cl, in good yields. However, small amounts of perfluoroalkylsulfur pentafluorides, R_fSF₅, are also obtained. A mixture of the cis and trans isomers of bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfur tetrafluoride and of trifluoromethyl pentafluoroethylsulfur tetrafluoride has been formed by the reaction of the corresponding bis(perfluoroalkyl) sulfides and chlorine monofluoride. The new perfluoroalkylsulfur chloride tetrafluorides are colorless, unpleasant smelling liquids. The infrared, mass and ¹⁹F NMR spectral data, as well as thermodynamic and elementary analysis data, are given for the new compounds.