Perfluoroalkanesulfonylimides and their lithium salts: synthesis and characterisation of intermediates and target compounds

ECF processes have been extensively experienced and developed since early 1970s at the Fluorine Chemistry Laboratory of Padua University: several classes of perfluorinated inert and functional compounds have been obtained, in particular perfluoro heterocyclics and perfluorinated acid fluorides. Recently the demand for electrolyte salts, applied in lithium batteries, drove our interest to investigate on the perfluoroalkanesulfonylimides. A series of the perfluoroalkanesulfonylfluoride precursors has been obtained by ECF and their metathesis to the related imides and lithium salts has been investigated. A number of representative products has been obtained and characterized in their structure and ionic conductivity. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.