Formation of carbon–fluorine and carbon–fluoroalkyl bonds via transition metal complexes represents an efficient synthetic route towards a wide array of valuable fluorinated organic compounds and fluorinated metallacycles offer a potentially green and atom economical pathway towards these functionalized fluorocarbons. This thesis is focused on cycloaddition reactions of Ni=CF2 complexes with fluoroalkenes (FAs) and acetylenes. Cycloaddition reactions of the FAs vinylidene fluoride (CF2=CH2) and perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether) [CF2=CF(OCF3)] with the electron-rich Ni(0) fluorocarbene, Ni=CF2[P(OMe)3](dppe) affords stable metallacyclobutane complexes, likely through a 1,4-diradical mechanism previously investigated for analogous reactions using computational chemistry. With CF2=CHF (TrFE), however, the observed products are the C3 alkene E-CHF=CF(CF3) and the metallacyclopentane complex, Ni(C4H2F6)(dppe), derived from oxidative coupling of two additional equivalents of TrFE. It is proposed that the instability of the initially formed metallacyclobutane gives rise to a 2,1-F shift, yielding the C3 alkene complex. Reaction of the latter with excess TrFE then liberates the C3 alkene, forming the TrFE alkene complex followed by the observed metallacyclopentane product. In the reaction of 1a with chlorotrifluoroethylene (CF2=CFCl) a single regioisomer of the metallacyclobutane is observed, but reacts further in THF solvent via α-Cl migration to Ni, affording the tetrafluoroallyl complex, NiCl(CF2CF=CFH), in which one F has been replaced by a hydrogen. Finally, reaction of 1a with hexafluoropropene [CF2=CF(CF3), HFP] takes an unprecedented turn, affording the Ni trifluoromethyl perfluoroalkenyl complex from formal transfer of one F from HFP to the Ni=CF2 moiety. The capability of 1a to perform cycloaddition with a broader substrate scope was investigating by reacting it with terminal aryl-acetylenes of varying electronic parameters. Reaction of 1a with 1.5 equivalents of 4-R-phenylacetylene afforded the expected difluorometallacyclobutenes (R = H, Cl, tBu). Further observation revealed a second acetylene insertion to yield a nickelacyclohexadiene in the first example of a 4- to 6-membered ring expansion of perfluorometallacycles. The six-membered metallacycle then undergoes reductive elimination to furnish a difluorocyclopentadiene. The electronic parameters of the aryl-acetylene substrate play a dramatic role in the selectivity of product formation. The more electron-donating substrates 4-tert-butylphenylacetylene and 1-hexyne stabilize the metallacyclobutene, while the electron-withdrawing 4-chlorophenylacetylene affords a more reactive metallacyclobutene making it more prone to the second acetylene insertion. Phenylacetylene represented a middle-ground between the two systems and proved effective for further characterization studies. The electronic effect of the surrounding ancillary ligand system was also studied by substituting dppe in 1a for P(OMe)3 and dipe to give analogous Ni(0) difluorocarbene complexes 1b and 1c (dipe = 1,2-bis(diisobutylphosphino)ethane). The -acidic phosphite ligands in 1b gave exclusively nickelacyclohexadiene and difluorinated cyclopentadiene due to a reactive metallacyclobutene, whereas the more electron rich 1c formed the metallacyclobutene product almost exclusively. The results presented here will allow for future investigations of fluorinated metallacycle reactivity, increasing our ability to prepare value-added fluorocarbon products for pharma, agrochemicals, and polymer applications.

Routes to sterically demanding organofluorine-containing phosphines are described, and the stereoelectronic properties and chemistry of the resulting new ligands investigated. The synthesis of Cy2P(CF=CF2), 3, has been accomplished. The nucleophilic substitution of Ph2P(CF=CF2) with tBuLi produces the (Z)-isomer, Ph2P(Z-CF=CF(tBu)), 5-(Z), predominantly, which has been shown to be less electron-withdrawing than Ph2P(CF=CF2), and similar in size to 3. The bis-trifluoropropynyl substituted phosphine PhP(tfp)2, 7, has been prepared, and its reaction with tBuLi investigated. This results in the formation of three previously unknown species, the gem¬-difluorocyclopropenyl-containing compound, PhtBuP(dfcp), 8, (Z)-Ph2P(CH=C(t¬Bu)CF3), 9, and PhtBuP(tfp), 10. The nucleophilic substitution occurs preferentially at the phosphorus centre, as shown by the reaction with one equivalent of tBuLi at -60°C, where compounds 9 and 10 are formed. A new route to perfluoroalkyl-containing phosphines has been discovered. The addition of a perfluoroalkyl iodide to Ph2PSiMe3 results in the formation of six new phosphines, and has been shown to be extendable to partially fluorinated systems. The route can also be applied to iPr2PSiMe3, and to the chiral phosphine PhMePSiMe3. Three examples, Ph2PRf (Rf = CF(CF3)2, 15, (sC4F¬9), 18, (cyc-C6F11), 19), have been produced on a preparative scale. The reaction of the bis-trimethylsilyl phenyl phosphine with (CF3)2CFI has been investigated, though it does not result in the production of the bis-perfluoroalkyl-substituted phosphine, instead the previously unknown P-chiral compound, PhP(H)CF(CF3)2, 27 is formed. Mechanistic studies have indicated that Ph2P-PPh2 is the intermediate, and that there is no evidence of a radical mechanism. There is no reaction between Me2(S)P-P(S)Me2 and (CF3)2CFI, though there is when Me2P-P(S)Me2 is used, suggesting that the lone pair of the intermediate diphosphine is necessary for the reaction to proceed. This has resulted in the formation of the new compound, Me2PCF(CF3)2, 28. The chemistry of the perfluoroalkyl-containing phosphines has been investigated; they do not quaternise, but are oxidatively sensitive. The phosphorus(V) selenides of 15, 18, and 19 have been prepared, and based on their 1JPSe coupling constants, the perfluoroalkyl-groups impart a greater electron-withdrawing effect than perfluorovinyl, trifluoropropynyl, or alkoxy fragments. The oxidation of 15 and 18 with XeF2 has also been accomplished, and shown to yield the corresponding F2PPh2Rf compounds. The molybdenum(0) pentacarbonyl complexes of 3, 7, and 15 have been synthesised and perfluoroalkyl-groups have again been shown to be more electron-withdrawing than perfluorovinyl and trifluoropropynyl groups by comparison of v(CO) values. The gold(I) chloride complexes of Ph2PCF3, 15, and 18 and the platinum(II) dichloride complexes of 3 and 15 have been prepared, and the size of these ligands has been estimated from the crystal structures. Compound 18 has been shown to be the largest of these compounds, with a cone angle of 187°.

Fluorinated organic compounds play important roles in our society, as these products range from life-saving pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, to fluoropolymers with extremely high thermal and chemical stability. Although elemental fluorine (F2) is the most reactive element, some fluoro-organic compounds are chemically inert. As such, controlled reactivity of fluorine or highly-fluorinated organic fragments is a considerable, yet important challenge for synthetic chemists. Fluoro-organometallic chemistry has been studied for decades, as researchers attempt to maximize the potential of metal mediated/catalyzed processes for the synthesis of fluorinated organic molecules. Within this framework, metal fluorocarbene complexes are particularly interesting because of their highly tunable reactivity, and are proposed for use in important metathesis/polymerization reactions of perfluorinated alkenes. While considerable work is still needed to make these proposed reactions a reality, this thesis outlines contributions from our research group. We showed that cobalt fluorocarbene complexes CpCo(=CFRF)(PPh2Me) (RF = F, CF3) undergo [2+2] cycloaddition reactions with tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and phenylacetylene to form perfluorometallacyclobutane and partially fluorinated metallacyclobutene products, respectively. For both reactions, computational studies reveal a stepwise ring-closing mechanism, which proceeds through a singlet 1,4-diradical intermediate. Next, the formation of CpCo(=CF2)(L) complexes is achieved via the direct addition of difluorocarbene, generated in situ, to a cobalt(I) precursor. Subsequent addition of CF2 to cobalt fluorocarbene complexes results in [2+1] cycloaddition and formation of perfluorinated alkene complexes. The [2+1] addition is highly favored as the cobalt fluorocarbenes readily react with electrophilic CF2. A series of experiments provide evidence for the stepwise nature of fluoroalkene complex formation. From Co(I) fluorocarbene complexes, the focus shifts to preparing metal fluorocarbenes with electrophilic-type reactivity. The synthesis of bis(perfluoroalkyl) complexes serve as precursors for preparation of perfluoroalkyl cobalt(III) fluorocarbenes, which undergo migratory insertion reactions of the fluorocarbene into the perfluoroalkyl ligand. Using a similar synthetic approach, nickel(II) and palladium(II) difluorocarbene complexes are prepared from their corresponding trifluoromethyl precursors. The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of cobalt(III) fluoride complexes is also described, including the catalytic fluorination of acyl chlorides, demonstrating the first example of a cobalt(III) catalyzed fluorination reaction. The effects of the various ancillary ligands on these cobalt catalysts are investigated using high-throughput experimentation technology, and the scope of the reaction is expanded to include the synthesis of a variety of acyl fluoride compounds. Finally, the results and learnings from this work will be summarized and highlighted. The future directions and novel research which could result from the continuation of these projects is discussed, with an emphasis placed on the areas believed to have the highest potential impact.

Durant ce doctorat en collaboration avec Bayer CropScience, une famille de réactifs appelés Réactifs de type Fluoroalkyl Amines (ou FARs) a été étudiée (spécialement le TFEDMA) pour réaliser ’introduction de groupes fluorés émergents (EFSs). Après une activation à l’aide d’un acide de Lewis, les sels de fluoro-iminium obtenus ont été utilisés pour la difluoroacylation d’arenes et hétéroarènes riches en électrons, ou la synthèse efficace et régiosélective de pyrazoles et d’isoxazoles possédant un groupe -CHF2 à partir d’éthers vinyliques et apparentés, d’éthers d’énol silylés ou de composés CH-acides. Un nouveau FAR a été développé permettant l’introduction du groupe -CHFOCF3 sur des pyrazoles. La synthèse de nouveaux 3,5-bis(fluoroalkyl)-NH-pyrazoles a été réalisée à partir d’azines fluorées et de FARs. Une méthode régiosélective de synthèse de 3,5-bis(fluoroalkyl)-pyrazoles avec une vaste diversité structurale accessible a ensuite été développée à l’aide de cétimines fluorées, d’hydrazines et de FARs. La synthèse de bis(fluoroalkyl)pyrimidines a été développée à partir d’acétoacétates fluorés, d’amidines et de FARs. Trois produits de réarrangement de type cyclobutène hautement fonctionnalisés ont été préparés. La synthèse de pyrazoles et d’isoxazoles substitués par des groupes -CHF2 et -OCF3 a été réalisée similairement, et un exemple difficile d’acide pyrazole-3-carboxylique contenant ces deux substituants a été préparé. Le concept de FAR vinylogue a été illustré avec la préparation de l’acide 4-perfluoropropylnicotinique à partir d’iodure de perfluoropropyle. / During this 3-year PhD project in collaboration with Bayer CropScience, a family of fluorinating reagents (Fluoroalkyl Amino Reagents, FARs) was extensively studied (especially TFEDMA), and was used for various applications implying fluoro iminium salts after Lewis acid activation. The difluoroacylation of electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes was developed. The synthesis of difluoromethylated pyrazoles and isoxazoles was achieved from vinyl ethers and analogues, silyl enol ethers or CH-acidic substrates. A new FAR was developed for the facile introduction of -CHFOCF3 group. A first method was developed allowing for the first access to 3,5-bis(fluoroalkyl)-NH-pyrazoles using fluorinated azines and FARs. The regioselective synthesis of 3,5-bis(fluoroalkyl)pyrazoles with tunable regioselectivity and broad substitution scope was developed using fluorinated ketimines, hydrazines and FARs. The synthesis of bis(fluoroalkyl)pyrimidine carboxylates was successfully achieved from fluorinated acetoacetates, amidines and FARs. Three highly functionalized cyclobutene products formed by rearrangement were isolated and characterised by crystallography. The syntheses of pyrazoles and isoxazoles bearing trifluoromethoxy and difluoromethyl motifs were developed from α-trifluoromethoxy-aryl-ketones, hydrazines and FARs, and a challenging pyrazole carboxylic acid bearing both substituents was synthesized. The concept of vinylogous FAR was exemplified with the synthesis of 4-perfluoropropylnicotinic acid from perfluoropropyl iodide.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are synthetic chemicals which are used in a wide range of applications such as aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) for firefighting, paint, coating and cosmetics. For almost a decade, PFASs have received worldwide attention because of the ubiquitous detection of PFAS in the environment and their bioaccumulative, persistent and give toxic effects on animals and humans. A number of study have shown many unknown organofluorine present in environmental samples. The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) method is an oxidation method to convert any precursor compounds of PFASs into measurable perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) or sulfonic acids (PFSAs). The aims of this project are to evaluate if the use of total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay may help improve the mass balance analysis between the quantifiable PFASs and extractable organofluorine in samples. In this study, three water samples: landfill leachate water, contaminated groundwater and adiluted Sthamex AFFF with tap water were undergone TOP assay to reveal the present of any unidentified precursor compounds. To obtain the extractable organofluorine and quantifiable PFAS levels in the samples, combustion ion chromatography (CIC) and liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used, respectively. Results suggested the presence of unidentified precursor compounds in the samples with the aid of TOP assay reaction. Although after the oxidative conversion, a large portion of unidentified PFASs compounds were still present in the samples. The quantifiable PFASs in the samples were up to 7 % of the EOF; in other word, there were still around 93 % of unidentified compounds present in the samples. Further development of analytical method for characterization or identification of these unknown PFAS compounds is needed.