BASE INITIATED HALOGEN-EXCHANGE REACTIONS BETWEEN PERHALOALKANES

Halophilic attacks on CX bonds (X = Pr, Cl) by a base can easily initi ate intermolecular bromine-chlorine exchange reactions either among br omine-or chlorine-containing perhaloalkane molecules of different comp ounds or among molecules of the same compound. It provides a new and c onvenient method to synthesize perhaloalkanes. Apparently, it pertains to an anionic mechanism, i.e. the reaction is initiated by halophilic attack on C-X bonds by the base, and an intermediate carbanion is for med. Distributions of the products depend on the equilibria involving all carbanion intermediates and perhaloalkane product molecules.