Hexafluorobutadiene

Hexafluorobutadiene is an organofluorine compound with the formula (CF2=CF)2. A colorless gas, it has attracted attention as an etchant in microelectronics. It is the perfluoroanalogue of butadiene.

It can be prepared by coupling of C2 compounds such as from chlorotrifluoroethylene or bromotrifluoroethylene. Routes from C4 species have also been demonstrated. For example, an early synthesis involved Zn-induced dechlorination of 1,2,3,4-tetrachloro-1,1,2,3,4,4-hexafluorobutane.

Hexafluorobutadiene dimerizes via a [2+2] process at 150 °C to give perfluorinated divinylcyclobutanes.