Electrophilic polyfluoroalkylating agents based on sulfonate esters

This review surveys selected electrophilic polyfluoroalkylating reagents, polyfluoroalkyl alkane- and arenesulfonates, that have been used for the introduction of longer perfluorinated chains (C(n)F2(n+1); n >= 4) with methylene, ethylene or propylene spacers into the substrate. Polyfluoroalkyl mesylates, tosylates, triflates and nonaflates are described with their applications in various syntheses of polyfluorinated compounds. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.