N-Fluoro-bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide: interesting reactions involving nucleophilic attack on sulfonyl groups

N-Fluoro-bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (1) undergoes reaction with a variety of nucleophiles to give a number of interesting products. Under sui table conditions, the sulfonyl group on 1 is subject to nucleophilic attack forming N-fluoro-trifluoromethylsulfonyl amide (3) and Nu-SO2CF3. Surprisi ngly, 3 can also function as a weak nucleophile in the absence of other str onger bases. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.