THE REACTION OF XEF2 WITH TRIALKYLVINYLSTANNANES - SCOPE AND SOME MECHANISTIC OBSERVATIONS

The combination of a vinylstannane with xenon difluoride in the presen ce of silver(I) triflate results in a very rapid process leading to th e corresponding vinyl fluoride. The reaction is regio- and stereospeci fic and does not require stoichiometric Ag(I). No evidence could be ob tained of radical intermediates on the reaction pathway leading to the vinyl fluorides. A symmetrical dimer derived from the vinylstannane, which was obtained as a reaction byproduct, was shown to arise from ox idative coupling by the silver salt. The results are consistent with a n electrophilic mechanism following an initial interaction of the viny lstannane with Ag(I).