Towards the synthesis of perfluoroalkylated derivatives of Xantphos

An analogue of Xantphos incorporating four perfluoroalkyl groups has been prepared and successfully used as a ligand in the rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of 1-octene in toluene. A number of perfluoroalkylated xanthene backbones have also been synthesised, but their conversion into preferentially perfluorocarbon solvent soluble Xantphos-type ligands, suitable for catalysis in fluorocarbon solvents, has not been successful.