NMR study on the interaction of 1,4-cubanedicarboxylic acid and its esters with elemental fluorine. The synthesis of dimethyl 2-fluorocubane-1,4-dicarboxylate.

Elemental fluorine can be successfully used for fluorination of cubane derivatives. The nature of the products depends on the fluorination conditions: in CH3CN at -20 to -30 degrees C, dimethyl 2-fluorocubane-1,4-dicarboxylate was obtained from dimethyl ester of 1,4-cubanedicarboxylic acid; in CF3COOH at -12 to -15 degrees C in the presence of alkali metal acetates, 1,4-cubanedicarboxylic acid and its dimethyl and diethyl esters gave complex mixtures of fluorinated cubane products. Our investigation by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy and spectra computer simulation revealed production of mono- and difluorinated cubanes. Fluorine-containing cubane derivatives were also found with extra substituents in other than 1 and 4 positions.