Chemistry
The Fowler process is typically done in two stages, the first stage being fluorination of cobalt(II) fluoride to cobalt(III) fluoride.
- 2 CoF2 + F2 → 2 CoF3
During the second stage, in this instance to make perfluorohexane, the hydrocarbon feed is introduced and is fluorinated by the cobalt(III) fluoride, which is converted back to cobalt(II) fluoride for reuse. Both stages are performed at high temperature.
- C6H14 + 28 CoF3 → C6F14 + 14 HF + 28 CoF2
The reaction proceeds though a single electron transfer process, involving a carbocation. This carbocation intermediate can readily undergo rearrangements, which can lead to a complex mixture of products.
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