How trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane reacts with itself in the presence of naked fluoride--a one-pot synthesis of bis([15]crown-5)cesium 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptafluoro-2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)pentenide.

Reactions of trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane in the presence of "naked" fluoride proceed up to a temperature of +5 degrees C mainly with formation of [Me3Si(CF3)2]-. A further rise of temperature up to about 20 degrees C gives evidence for the formation of a salt with the 1,1,1,2,3,6,6,6-octafluoro-2,4,4,5,5-pentakis(trifluoromethyl)hexan-3-ide anion. This intermediate decomposes at room temperature into the 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptafluoro-2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)pentenide anion. The bis([15]crown-5)cesium salt, [Cs([15]crown-5)2][(CF3)2CCFC(CF3)2] has been characterized unambiguously as the stable final product of this reaction sequence. Thermal decomposition of this salt opens a convenient nontoxic route to obtain 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)allene, (F3C)2C=C=C(CF3)2.