ELECTROCHEMICAL TRIFLUOROMETHYLATION OF ACRYLONITRILE AND CROTONITRILE - PREPARATION OF 2,3-BIS(2,2,2-TRIFLUOROETHYL)SUCCINONITRILE AND 3,4-DICYANO-2,5-BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)-N-HEXANE

Electrooxidation of trifluoroacetic acid int he presence of acrylonitr ile in an acetonitrile-water solution followed by simple steam distill ation of the reaction mixture, provided almost pure 2,3-bis(2,2,2-trif luoroethyl)succinonitrile in a 20 - 25% yield and in a 1:1 diastereois omers ratio. The meso isomer has been isolated and its structure confi rmed by X-ray analysis. Similarly, the reaction in the presence of cro tonitrile gave a diastereoisomeric mixture of 3,4-dicyuano-2,5-bis(tri fluoromethyl)-n-hexanes albeit in lower yield. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.