Three Fluorinated Trityl Alcohols and Their Lithium Salts – Synthesis, Molecular Structures and Acidity

The fluorinated trityl alcohols (C6F5)(3)COH, (C6H2F3)(3)COH and (C-6(CF3)(2)H-3)(3)COH were prepared in good to excellent yields by one-step procedures. These alcohols and their lithium salts were fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and XRD analysis. The molecular structures reveal that the differences in the fluorination patterns result in a divergent coordination behavior in their lithium salts. Experimental and computational studies concerning the acidity show similar electron withdrawing character of the substituents and disclose acidity properties in the range of phenols.