Organophosphorus chemistry. Part 21 [1]. Insertion of olefins into P  CF3 bonds

Tris(trifluoromethyl)phosphine and ethylene reacted efficiently under u.v. irradiation to give 3,3,3-trifluoropropylbis(trifuomothyl) phosphine in good yield. With vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride, and propene the reaction was regioselective rather than regiospecific, and the yield of 1:1 adduct was low. In these reactions, and in those with vinyl chloride, but-1-ene, and hexafluoropropene, in which only traces of 1:1-adduct could be detected, the bulk of the olefin and of the phosphine was recovered, and numerous by-products consistent with radical intermediates were identified. With propyne, 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphino-cis-but-2-ene was obtained in moderate yield, but no reaction occurred between the phosphine and either but-2-yne or hexafluorcbut-2-yne. Tris(trifluoromethyl)phosphine oxide did not form an adduct with ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, or propyne.Bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphine and dimethylphosphine both reacted readily under u.v. irradiation with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene, the phosphinyl radical attacking the terminal carbon in each case.