Kinetics of the reaction F + 1,2-dibromo-1,1,2-trifluoroethane

The title reaction was studied in a standard flow system with F atoms produced by RF discharge in F₂-He mixture. Analysis was by gas chromatography using electron capture detection. There were two major products, identified as CF₂BrCF₂H and CF₂BrCF₂Br, plus presumably HF which was not detectable. The overall rate of disappearance of reactant was found to be of mixed one and one-half order, indicating a complex reaction. A mechanism is proposed comprising six steps and involving two radical species CF₂Br?FBr (R₁) and CF₂Br?F₂. The 300 K rate constant for the initial step F + reactant → HF + R₁ is evaluated to be 2.2 × 10^?13 cm³/molec·s, which fits in with rates of other saturated hydrocarbon reactants containing one hydrogen atom, thus supporting the view that in this class of reactants the rates of reactions of the type F + saturated hydrocarbon depend mainly on the number of hydrogen atoms in the reactant.