Org. Synth. 1964, 44, 39
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.044.0039
α,α-DIFLUOROTOLUENE AND BENZENESULFINYL FLUORIDE
[Toluene, α,α-difluoro-]
Submitted by William A. Sheppard
1
Checked by E. S. Glazer and John D. Roberts.
1. Procedure
Caution! Phenylsulfur trifluoride is toxic, and this reaction should be carried out in a good hood. The reagent should not be allowed to come in contact with the skin.
Phenylsulfur trifluoride2 (16.6 g., 0.10 mole) is placed in a
two-necked 50-ml. flask equipped with a
dropping funnel and connected to a dry distillation column
(Note 1). The flask is heated to 50–70° in an
oil bath, and
10.6 g. (0.10 mole) of benzaldehyde is added in small portions over 30 minutes. A mild exothermic reaction occurs. After the addition is completed, the reaction flask is heated to 100° with an oil bath, and the pressure on the column is reduced until
α,α-difluorotoluene distills. The major portion of product distills at
68° (80 mm.), but a small final cut, b.p.
45° (15 mm.), is obtained. The yield of
α,α-difluorotoluene is
9.2–10.2 g. (
71–80%)
(Note 2). The pressure is reduced and the distillation is continued. An intermediate cut of
1–2 g., b.p.
45° (15 mm.) to 60° (2.5 mm.), is discarded, and
benzenesulfinyl fluoride,
11.7–13.2 g. (
81–91%), b.p.
60° (2.5 mm.), is collected. Since the
benzenesulfinyl fluoride slowly attacks glass and may be unstable to storage at room temperature, it is recommended that this product be stored at −80°.
2. Notes
1.
A
45-cm. spinning band column was employed by the submitter, but any distillation column with a low holdup may be used. Since the products have widely different boiling points, careful fractionation during distillation is not needed. Because the
phenylsulfur trifluoride and
benzenesulfinyl fluoride slowly attack glass, all equipment should be rinsed with water and
acetone immediately after use to minimize etching.
2.
The product attacks glass slowly on standing, and a moderate increase in pressure takes place. The product can be stored for a period of several days in a polyethylene bottle, but it is best to prepare the material shortly before use. If prolonged storage is required, a stainless steel cylinder or a bottle fabricated from Teflon
® polytetrafluoroethylene resin is suggested.
3. Discussion
α,α-Difluorotoluene has been prepared by the reaction of
α,α-dichlorotoluene with
antimony (III) fluoride,
3 by the hydrogenation of
α-chloro-α,α-difluorotoluene,
4 by the action of
sulfur tetrafluoride on
benzaldehyde,
5 and by the present method.
6,7
4. Merits of the Preparation
Sulfur tetrafluoride provides an inexpensive method for selectively converting a carbonyl to a difluoromethyl group. However, the reactions involving
sulfur tetrafluoride, in general, require pressure equipment constructed of fluorine-resistant material such as "Hastelloy-C" bombs.
8 Phenylsulfur trifluoride may be used to advantage for the same reaction, where small amounts are involved, since the reaction may be run at atmospheric pressure in glass, polyethylene, or metal containers.
Although the
sulfur trifluoride compounds are generally useful as selective agents for conversion of carbonyl and carboxyl groups to difluoromethylene and trifluoromethyl groups, variations in reaction conditions are often necessary.
7 Thus the reaction of aromatic ketones requires heating at 150°. Since the reaction with aliphatic aldehydes and ketones is exothermic, it is advantageous to run it in a solvent such as
methylene chloride or
acetonitrile containing a small amount of
sodium fluoride powder (with ketones an induction period of several hours may be observed). Reactions with carboxylic acids should be carried out in a container resistant to
hydrogen fluoride, and they require heating at 120° to 150°.
This preparation is referenced from:
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
polytetrafluoroethylene
acetonitrile (75-05-8)
hydrogen fluoride (7664-39-3)
benzaldehyde (100-52-7)
acetone (67-64-1)
methylene chloride (75-09-2)
α,α-dichlorotoluene (98-87-3)
sodium fluoride (7681-49-4)
BENZENESULFINYL FLUORIDE
Phenylsulfur trifluoride (672-36-6)
antimony (III) fluoride
sulfur tetrafluoride (7783-60-0)
sulfur trifluoride
α,α-Difluorotoluene,
Toluene, α,α-difluoro- (455-31-2)
α-chloro-α,α-difluorotoluene
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