The synthesis and structural characterisation of an homologous series of group 14 1-chloro-2,2-difluorovinyl compounds

A series of group 14 1-chloro-2,2-difluorovinyl compounds Ph3E(CClCF2) (E=Ge, Sn, Pb) has been prepared using the low temperature reactions of 1-chloro-2,2-difluorovinyllithium (LiCClCF2), generated in situ from CF3CH2Cl (HCFC-133a) and n-butyllithium. These new materials have been fully characterised, including for E=Ge and Sn, by single crystal X-ray studies. This is the first time that any main-group 1-chloro-2,2-difluorovinyl compounds have been crystallographically studied.