Activation of SF 5 CF 3 by the N -Heterocyclic Carbene SIMes

The greenhouse gas SF 5 CF 3 was photochemically activated with SIMes (1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) to give 1,3-dimesityl-2,2-difluoroimidazolidine (SIMesF 2 ), and 1,3-dimesitylimidazolidine-2-sulfide, as well as the trifluoromethylated carbene derivative 1,3-dimesityl-2-fluoro-2-trifluoromethylimidazolidine. CF 3 radicals, as well as SF 4 , serve presumably as intermediates of the conversions. In addition, the photochemical activation of SF 5 CF 3 was performed in the presence of triphenylphosphine. The formation of triphenyldifluorophosphorane and triphenylphosphine sulfide was observed.