Convenient synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structures of two tetrafluoro[2,2]paracyclophane isomers

Fluorinated [2,2]paracyclophanes are useful precursors to poly(p-xylylene) polymers. The cyclophanes 1,1,9,9-tetrafluoro[2,2]p-cyclophane (3a) and 1,1,10,10-tetrafluoro[2.2]p-cyclophane (3b) can be readily prepared via a convenient two-step synthesis from the parent hydrocarbon [2,2]p-cyclophane (1). The structures of 3a and 3b are confirmed via single crystal X-ray analysis.