Preparation and thermal behavior of 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutane-1,2-diols: A new family of cyclobutane-1,2-diols

Thermal dimerization of 2,2-diftuoro enol silyl ethers led to 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutanes. The [2+2] cycloaddition proceeded in a head-to-head fashion to afford the cyclobutanes containing the trans and cis stereoisomers. The cyclobutanes were transformed to tetrafluorocyclobutane-1,2-diols by desilylation.