An amorphous Lewis-acidic zirconium chlorofluoride as HF shuttle: C-F bond activation and formation

An exceptional HF transfer reaction by C-F bond activation of fluoropentane and a subsequent hydrofluorination of alkynes at room temperature is reported. An amorphous Lewis-acidic Zr chlorofluoride serves as heterogeneous catalyst, which is characterised by an eightfold coordination environment at Zr including chlorine atoms. The studies are seminal in establishing sustainable fluorine chemistry. A process to shuttle HF from a fluoroalkane to alkynes has been developed. The consecutive dehydrofluorination and hydrofluorination steps are catalysed by an amorphous zirconium chlorofluoride at room temperature.