Reaction of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene-1 with bromoform and methylene bromide

The radical telomerization of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene with bromoform and methylens bromide has been studied. The nature of the products with bromoform depends substantially on the method of initiation. In the presence of Fe(CO)5 + DMF, telomers of CHBr2(CH52CHCF3)nBr are formed, while with initiation with benzoyl peroxide other compounds are also formed that contain two, three, or four bromine atoms per molecule. To elucidate the formation of these products a reaction scheme is proposed that involves rearrangement of CHBr2CH2CH(CF3)CH3CHCF3 radicals to CBr2CH2CH(CF3)CH2CH2CF3 radicals.