Symmetry of chloronium ions from ionic reaction of chlorine, chlorine monofluoride gas, and chlorine monofluoride complex with terminal alkenes

Ionic chlorination of 1H,1H,7H-perfluorohept-1-ene (2) and heptafluoropropyl trifluorovinyl ether (4) with chlorine monofluoride (ClF) gas in aprotic solvent; and alkenes 2, 1H-perfluorohept-1-ene (3E), and 4 with chlorine (Cl2) in protic solvent were investigated. Regiochemical data from SN2-like ring-opening of the intermediate was used to predict the symmetry of the chloronium ion. The chloronium ions from perfluorohydroalkene 2 with two terminal hydrogens were found to be unsymmetrical with positive charge localized on the terminal carbon. However, reaction of ClF(g) with 3E containing a single terminal fluorine atom gave data suggesting a symmetrical chloronium ion. Alkene 4 contains a heptafluoropropyl ether group that stabilizes positive charge on the number-2 carbon and it is reactive enough to give products with the sluggish ClF complex generated in situ. Reactive eletrophiles ClF(g), Cl2(g), or the less reactive ClF complex, give an unsymmetrical chloromium ion with charge localized on the internal number-2 carbon.