Difluoroacetylene

Difluoroacetylene is a compound of carbon and fluorine having molecular formula C2F2. A linear molecule, its two carbons are joined by a triple bond and have terminal fluorines: F-C≡C-F. The molecule is the perfluorocarbon analog of acetylene, C2H2. Preparation of difluoroacetylene is difficult, with danger of explosions and with low yields. Nevertheless, the compound has been made, isolated, and characterized by various spectroscopical methods (MS, NMR, Photoelectron- and IR spectroscopy). The compound is of interest as a precursor to fluoropolymers containing double bonds, analogous to polyacetylene.

Difluoroacetylene is stable in the gaseous phase under low pressure. At liquid nitrogen temperature, it is slowly changing to tetrafluorobutatriene, most likely through an intermediate of difluorovinylidene.