Fluorous chemistry

Applications

The utility of fluorous chemistry hinges on the partitioning modality distinct from polar/non-polar or hydrophilic/hydrophobic. A major application of fluorous chemistry involves the use of fluorosurfactant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to facilitate the production of Teflon. The technology is controversial because of the slow rates of biodegradation of such compounds.

Ponytails

In compounds exploited in academic fluorous chemistry, molecules comprise both nonfluorous and fluorous domains. The fluorous domain is often a substituent intended to confer solubility in the fluorocarbon medium. Such perfluorosubstituents are often introduced in what are called ponytails. Typical fluorous ponytails have the formula CF₃(CF₂)_n(CH₂)_m- where n is about 10 and m is about 3.

Through the use of high affinity of fluorous tags (ponytails) for fluorous phases or fluorous-derivatized solid phases allows for near complete recovery of the tagged reagent (i.e., near complete reduction in a chemical waste stream), making the use of fluorous chemistry techniques a popular topic in green chemistry.