PERFLUOROALKYL ARSENICALS: PART V. SOME SOLVOLYSIS STUDIES

Abstract

The ammonolysis of tetrakistrifluoromethyldiarsine probably proceeds through solvolytic fission of the As—As bond. Solvolysis of the diarsine by sodium methoxide in methanol does not seem to proceed by this mechanism. Chlorobistrifiuoromethylarsine is stable to ethanol and ethanethiol below 110° but reacts violently with solid sodium alcoholates to give only decomposition products. With solid sodium mercaptide chlorobistrifluoromethylarsine yields ethylmercaptobistrifiuoromethylarsine. This mercapto-arsine is also obtained by reacting iodobistrifluoromethylarsine with mercuric mercaptide. Ammonolysis and hydrolysis studies of the compounds R2AsCF3 and RAs(CF3)2 (R = C2H5, C4H9) indicate that the mechanism of solvolysis could be SN2.