Fluorodecarboxylation, rearrangement and cyclisation: the influence of structure and environment on the reactions of carboxylic acids with xenon difluoride

The reactions of structurally diverse carboxylic acids with XeF2 in both CH2Cl2/Pyrex® and CH2Cl2/PTFE have been studied. Pyrex® appears to be a very effective heterogeneous catalyst for an electrophilic mode of reaction of polarised XeF2, leading to rearrangement, cyclisation and cationic products. In CH2Cl2/PTFE, fluorodecarboxylation is the main mode of reaction, in accordance with previous studies, and may occur via a SET reaction of unpolarised XeF2.