acetylenes bearing a variety of substituents with perfluoroalkyl iodides in the presence of a catalytic amount of triethylborane provides the corresponding perfluoroalkenes in good to excellent yields. The addition of perfluoroalkyl iodides to olefins is also described.
The palladium-catalyzed Kharasch reaction of alkenes and alkynes is enhanced by the use of a heterogeneous aqueous system, without the use of hydrophilic co-solvents or phase transfer catalysts. The Pd(0)-catalyzed reaction of terminal alkenes with bromotrichloromethane in water goes to completion within 2 h at room temperature, whereas no reaction occurs in benzene otherwise under the same conditions. The Pd(0) catalyst in aqueous me la a so effects the radical addition of iodoperfluoroalkanes toward terminal alkenes and alkynes at room temperature.