Fluorocarbons: properties and syntheses

The paper discusses custom syntheses of fluorocarbons for potential use as artificial blood substitutes. The term "fluorocarbon" designates a perfluorinated carbon compound which does not contain another halogen or hydrogen. Prominent requirements of an artificial blood substitute are: 1) efficient oxygen/carbon dioxide transport, 2) biological inertness, 3) low vapor pressure, 4) dispersibility to form emulsion. Fluorocarbons are superior to other liquids in dissolving oxygen and carbon dioxide. The most biologically inert halogenated alkanes are fully fluorinated. Introduction of another halogen or unsaturation decreases biological inertness. Boiling points of fluoroalkanes can be estimated from the Kinney equation. The most common method of fluorination, namely electrofluorination, is briefly described and applied to several types of organic compounds. Hydrocarbons give low yields of perfluoroalkanes. Alternatively, perfluoroalkanes may be prepared through reaction of functionalized substrates. Innert perfluorocyclic ethers are obtained from substrate ethers or acid fluorides. All types of amines perfluorinate but only perfluorotertiary amines are inert. Divalent organo-sulfur compounds afford inert perfluorinated products with sulfur in the hexavalent state. Sulfonyl fluorides give perfluorosulfonyl fluorides which can be pyrolytically coupled producing perfluoroalkanes. The Schoniger combustion method and neutron activation are described as analytical means for determining fluorine content.