Fluorous tags and phases for synthesis and catalysis
IntroductionThe development of more efficient, rapid and environmentally friendly synthesis processes, whether for the production of high-tonnage compounds, pharmaceutical compounds or on a laboratory scale, is an important objective of current research. Most research efforts focus on optimizing the activity of existing reagents or catalysts or discovering new reactions. However, in a synthesis process, the purification step should not be neglected, as the isolated product yield and the overall energy cost of synthesis depend strongly on the nature and efficiency of the latter (Curran 1998). Methodologies for easily separating or recycling a catalyst, reagent or by-product from a reaction medium are to be encouraged in the context of sustainable chemistry. Ideally, these methods should make it possible to avoid as much as possible chromatographic purifications that consume large amounts of organic solvents, and if possible, distillations, which are costly in terms of energy and can lead to catalyst degradation. The use of liquid (perfluorocarbons) or solid (perfluorinated silicas or Teflon) perfluorinated phases is fully in line with this approach. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), such as n-perfluorohexane (C6F14), are liquids with extreme physicochemical properties. They are chemically inert, non-toxic and are the most non-polar liquids available. They are both hydrophobic and lipophobic, so they form liquid/liquid two-phase systems at room temperature with most organic solvents. The principle of fluorous chemistry consists of increasing the affinity of catalysts, reagents or substrates for liquid or solid perfluorinated phases, i.e. increasing their fluorophilicity. This is achieved by modifying catalysts, reagents or substrates with perfluoroalkyl fragments called fluorous tags (Ftags). As we will see later, fluorous compounds present in a reaction medium can then Chapter written by Jean-Marc VINCENT.