Halophilic reaction of N-sodium-substituted azoles with polyhaloperfluoroethanes containing different vicinal halogen atoms

The reactions of N-sodium-substituted azoles with 2-chloro-1-iodo- tetrafluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1-iodotrifluoroethane, and 1,2-dibromo-1-chlorotrifluoroethane have been investigated. As shown for iodo derivatives, it is the chlorine rather than the iodine atom that is substituted by the heterocyclic residue, which is consistent with the halophilic reaction mechanism. In the case of indole, the products of simultaneous N-iodopolyfluoroalkylation and ring-iodination have been isolated. The reaction with 1,2-dibromo-1-chlorotrifluoroetane yields N-(2-bromo-2-chlorotrifluoroethyl)azoles accompanied by minor amounts of N-(2,2-dibromotrifluoroethyl) derivatives as by-products.