Synthesis and Evaluation of Perfluoroalkylamines as Halon Alternatives

Abstract

Perfluoroalkylamines were synthesized as Halon alternatives and their evaluations were accomplished in terms of the decomposition with hydroxyl radical and fire extinguishing ability. Nitrogen-containing perfluoroalkyl bromides were synthesized via consecutive steps involving electrochemical fluorination, a reaction with lithium bromide, and photo-decarbonylation. Perfluoro (dimethylaminomethyl bromide) is considered to have a reduced ozone depletion potential (ODP), because it decomposes more easily than Halon 2402 by a reaction with hydroxyl radical. Perfluorotriethylamine, which has zero ODPs due to the absence of bromine, showed a good fire extinguishing ability comparable to that of Halon 1301.