Hexafluoroacetone
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Hexafluoroacetone (HFA) is a
chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...
with the
formula In science, a formula is a concise way of expressing information symbolically, as in a mathematical formula or a ''chemical formula''. The informal use of the term ''formula'' in science refers to the general construct of a relationship betwee ...
(CF3)2CO. It is structurally similar to
acetone Acetone (2-propanone or dimethyl ketone), is an organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest and smallest ketone (). It is a colorless, highly volatile and flammable liquid with a characteristic pungent odour. Acetone is miscib ...
; however, its reactivity is markedly different. It a colourless, hygroscopic, nonflammable, highly reactive gas characterized by a musty odour. The most common form of this substance is hexafluoroacetone sesquihydrate (1.5 H2O), which is a
hemihydrate In chemistry, a hemihydrate (or semihydrate) is a hydrate whose solid contains one molecule of water of crystallization per two other molecules, or per two unit cell In geometry, biology, mineralogy and solid state physics, a unit cell is a ...
of hexafluoropropane-2,2-diol , a
geminal diol In chemistry, the descriptor geminal () refers to the relationship between two atoms or functional groups that are attached to the same atom. A geminal diol, for example, is a diol (a molecule that has two alcohol functional groups) attached ...
.


Synthesis

The industrial route to HFA involves treatment of
hexachloroacetone Hexachloroacetone is an organic compound with the formula (Cl3C)2CO. It is also called hexachloropropanone or perchloroacetone. Numbers indicating the position of the chlorine-atoms are generally omitted as all the possible positions are substitut ...
with HF: :(CCl3)2CO + 6 HF → (CF3)2CO + 6 HCl
Hexafluoropropylene oxide Hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) is an intermediate used in industrial organofluorine chemistry; specifically it is a monomer for fluoropolymers. This colourless gas is the epoxide of hexafluoropropylene, that is fluorinated analog of propylene ...
rearranges to give HFA. In the laboratory, HFA can be prepared in a two step process from perfluoropropene. In the first step KF catalyzes the reaction of the alkene with elemental sulfur to give the 1,3-dithietane CF3)2CSsub>2. This species is then oxidized by iodate to give (CF3)2CO.


Uses

Hexafluoroacetone is used in the production of
hexafluoroisopropanol Hexafluoroisopropanol, commonly abbreviated HFIP, is the organic compound with the formula (CF3)2CHOH. This fluoroalcohol finds use as solvent and synthetic intermediate. It appears as a colorless, volatile liquid that is characterized by a stron ...
: :(CF3)2CO + H2 → (CF3)2CHOH It is also used as a precursor to hexafluoroisobutylene, a monomer used in polymer chemistry, and as a building block in the synthesis of
midaflur Midaflur ( INN; EXP 338) is an extremely stable 3-imidazoline derivative with central skeletal muscle relaxant and sedative properties in humans and other species of mammals, exhibiting consistently high oral bioavailability and a long duration ...
,
bisphenol AF Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is a fluorinated organic compound that is an analogue of bisphenol A in which the two methyl groups are replaced with trifluoromethyl groups. It exists as a white to light-gray powder. Biological and Chemical Action Bisphe ...
, 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, and
alitame Alitame is an aspartic acid-containing dipeptide sweetener. It was developed by Pfizer in the early 1980s and currently marketed in some countries under the brand name Aclame. Most dipeptides are not sweet, but the unexpected discovery of aspart ...
.


Reactivity

Hexafluoroacetone is an
electrophile In chemistry, an electrophile is a chemical species that forms bonds with nucleophiles by accepting an electron pair. Because electrophiles accept electrons, they are Lewis acids. Most electrophiles are positively charged, have an atom that carries ...
.
Nucleophile In chemistry, a nucleophile is a chemical species that forms bonds by donating an electron pair. All molecules and ions with a free pair of electrons or at least one pi bond can act as nucleophiles. Because nucleophiles donate electrons, they are ...
s attack at the
carbonyl In organic chemistry, a carbonyl group is a functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom: C=O. It is common to several classes of organic compounds, as part of many larger functional groups. A compound containing a ...
carbon. In water, hexafluoroacetone predominantly exists as the hydrate. The
equilibrium constant The equilibrium constant of a chemical reaction is the value of its reaction quotient at chemical equilibrium, a state approached by a dynamic chemical system after sufficient time has elapsed at which its composition has no measurable tendency ...
(Keq) for the formation of this
geminal diol In chemistry, the descriptor geminal () refers to the relationship between two atoms or functional groups that are attached to the same atom. A geminal diol, for example, is a diol (a molecule that has two alcohol functional groups) attached ...
is 106 M−1. The analogous equilibrium for acetone is an unfavorable 10−3 M−1. Hexafluoroacetone-hydrates are acidic. In an analogous reaction,
ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogenous was ...
adds to hexafluoroacetone to give the
hemiaminal In organic chemistry, a hemiaminal (also carbinolamine) is a functional group or type of chemical compound that has a hydroxyl group and an amine attached to the same carbon atom: . R can be hydrogen or an alkyl group. Hemiaminals are intermediat ...
(CF3)2C(OH)(NH2) which can be dehydrated with
phosphoryl chloride Phosphoryl chloride (commonly called phosphorus oxychloride) is a colourless liquid with the formula . It hydrolyses in moist air releasing phosphoric acid and fumes of hydrogen chloride. It is manufactured industrially on a large scale from phosp ...
to give the
imine In organic chemistry, an imine ( or ) is a functional group or organic compound containing a carbon–nitrogen double bond (). The nitrogen atom can be attached to a hydrogen or an organic group (R). The carbon atom has two additional single bo ...
(CF3)2CNH..


See also

*
Bromoacetone Bromoacetone is an organic compound with the formula . It is a colorless liquid although impure samples appear yellow or even brown. It is a lachrymatory agent and a precursor to other organic compounds. Occurrence in nature Bromoacetone is pre ...
*
Chloroacetone Chloroacetone is a chemical compound with the formula . At STP it is a colourless liquid with a pungent odour. On exposure to light, it turns to a dark yellow-amber colour. It was used as a tear gas in World War I. Synthesis Chloroacetone may b ...
*
Fluoroacetone Fluoroacetone is an organofluorine compound with the chemical formula . In contrast to trifluoroacetone, the compound has one fluorine atom. Under normal conditions, the substance is a colorless liquid. Fluoroacetone is also a highly toxic and fl ...
*
Trifluoroacetone Trifluoroacetone (1,1,1-trifluoroacetone) is an organofluorine compound with the chemical formula CF3C(O)CH3. The compound is a colorless liquid with chloroform-like odour. Preparation, reactions, uses Trifluoroacetone is produced by decarboxylat ...
*
Novec 1230 Perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone) is a fluorinated ketone with the structural formula CF3CF2C(=O)CF(CF3)2, a fully-fluorinated analog of ethyl isopropyl ketone. It it used as an electronics coolant liquid and fire protection fluid sold commercia ...
*
Hexafluorothioacetone Hexafluorothioacetone is an organic perfluoro thione compound with formula CF3CSCF3. At standard conditions it is a blue gas. Production Hexafluorothioacetone was first produced by Middleton in 1961 by boiling ''bis''-(perfluoroisopropyl)mercury ...


References

{{Reflist Trifluoromethyl compounds Ketones Perfluorinated compounds Trifluoromethyl ketones