22difluoroethylene

2,2-difluoroethylene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C2H2F2. It is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure. The molecule consists of a carbon-carbon double bond where each carbon atom is bonded to one hydrogen atom and one fluorine atom. This arrangement classifies it as a haloalkene, specifically a difluoroalkene. Its structural isomer, 1,2-difluoroethylene, exists as cis and trans isomers due to the restricted rotation around the carbon-carbon double bond. However, 2,2-difluoroethylene does not exhibit cis-trans isomerism because both fluorine atoms are attached to the same carbon atom. The presence of fluorine atoms significantly influences the chemical properties of the molecule, making it more reactive in certain polymerization reactions compared to unsubstituted ethylene. It can undergo addition reactions typical of alkenes, with the fluorine atoms influencing the regioselectivity and stereochemistry of these reactions. 2,2-difluoroethylene has been investigated as a monomer for the synthesis of fluoropolymers, materials known for their unique properties such as chemical inertness, thermal stability, and low surface energy.