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A perfluorinated compound (PFC) is an organofluorine compound containing only carbon-fluorine bonds no C-H bonds) and C-C bonds but also other heteroatomes. PFCs have properties that represent a blend of fluorocarbons (containing only C-F and C-C bonds) and the parent organic species.

Applications

Many perfluorinated compounds are useful. For example, fluorosurfactants powerfully reduce surface tension by concentrating at the liquid-air interface due to the lipophobicity of fluorocarbons, due to the polar functional group added to the fluorocarbon chain. Other groups or atoms for fluorocarbon based compounds the oxygen atom incorporated into an ether group for anesthetics, and the chlorine atom for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). In a sharp contrast to true fluorocarbons, the chlorine atom produces a chlorine radical which degrades ozone. Fluorosurfactants are widely used in the production of teflon and related fluorinated polymers. They have also been used to confer hydrophobic, stain-resisting properties to fabrics.

Classes of PFCs by functional group

Representative members of this large family of compounds are listed below. Also numerous are compounds that contain many fluoride centers but also some hydrogen, e.g., trifluoroethanol.

Perfluorinated alkyl and aryl halides

• Trifluoroiodomethane, an alkylating agent
• Pentafluoroethyl iodide
• Pentafluoroethyl iodide, an alkylating agent
• Perfluorooctyl bromide (perflubron) is a contrast medium for magnetic resonance imaging, computer tomography and sonography. It has also been used in liquid breathing.
• Dichlorodifluoromethane, refrigerant

Fluorochloroalkenes

• Chlorotrifluoroethylene, monomer
• Dichlorodifluoroethylene (three isomers), monomers

Perfluoroethers and epoxides

• hexafluoropropylene oxide , precursor to perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether (CF₂=CFOCF₃), a useful monomer
• Krytox, perfluorinated polyether used in special greases

Perfluoroalcohols

Perfluorinated alcohols are unstable with respect to dehydrofluorination.

• Pentafluorophenol, a moderately strong acid

Perfluoroamines

• Perfluorotripentylamine (and related derivatives) are found in Fluorinert, electronic coolant.

Perfluoroketones

• Hexafluoroacetone, building block in organofluorine chemistry.

Perfluorocarboxylic acids

• Trifluoroacetic acid, a moderately strong acid useful in organic chemistry
• Heptafluorobutyric acid, a moderately strong acid that is useful in organic and analytical chemistry
• Pentafluorobenzoic acid, a moderately strong acid of interest in research community
• perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), surfactant used to make fluoropolymers such as Teflon
• perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), surfactant in the emulsion polymerization of fluoropolymers, like PFOA.

Perfluoronitriles and isonitriles

• Trifluoromethylisocyanide, the simplest perfluorinated isonitrile.
• Trifluoromethylacetonitrile, the simplest perfluorinated nitrile

Perfluorosulfonic acids and related derivatives

• Triflic acid, a useful strong acid
• perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) used as a replacement for PFOS in 3M's reformulated Scotchgard.
• perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride (POSF), precursor to PFOS-based compounds.
• perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), used in 3M's Scotchgard formulation.
• perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS,) used in the semiconductor industry, 3M's former Scotchgard formulation, and 3M's former fire-fighting foam mixture.

Perfluorinated aryl borates

• NaB(C₆F₅)₄], salt of a weakly coordinating anion.

Environmental and health concerns

Despite the presence of some natural fluorocarbons such as tetrafluoromethane, which has been reported in rocks, man-made fluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases.

Certain fluorocarbons tend to bioaccumulate, since they are extremely stable and can be stored in the bodies of both humans and animals. Examples of fluorocarbons include PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), frequently present in water resistant textiles and sprays conferring water resistant properties to textiles. Data from animal studies of PFOA indicate that it can cause several types of tumors and neonatal death and may have toxic effects on the immune, liver, and endocrine systems. Data on the human health effects of PFOA are however sparse.

The fluorocarbon, PFOA and PFOS have both been subject for numerous investigations by the EU and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding them being harmful to the environment.

See also

• Fluorosurfactants
• Fluorocarbons

References

1. Günter Siegemund, Werner Schwertfeger, Andrew Feiring, Bruce Smart, Fred Behr, Herward Vogel, Blaine McKusick “Fluorine Compounds, Organic” Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002. doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_349
2. Murphy CD, Schaffrath C, O'Hagan D.: "Fluorinated natural products: the biosynthesis of fluoroacetate and 4-fluorothreonine in Streptomyces cattleya" Chemosphere. 2003 Jul;52(2):455-61.
3. ^ US Environmental Protection Agency. "FAQ". Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Fluorinated Telomers. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
4. Steenland, Kyle; Fletcher, Tony; Savitz, David A. (2010). "Epidemiologic Evidence on the Health Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)". Environmental Health Perspectives. 118 (8): 1100–8. doi:10.1289/ehp.0901827. PMC 2920088. PMID 20423814. Retrieved 2011-05-11.

• Perfluorinated compounds