Fluorinated β-Sultones

Fluorinated (β)-sultones are formed on addition of sulfur trioxide to fluorinated olefins. Tetrafluoroethanesultone has been studied particularly thoroughly. The title compounds are characterized by the ease with which they undergo ring cleavage to give, e.g., derivatives of α-sulfo carboxylic acids, of sulfonic acids, of carboxylic acids, and of sulfuric acid. Fluorinated compounds of this type containing an α-hydrogen atom are especially valuable in preparative work.