Problem of the Lengths and Strengths of Carbon—Fluorine Bonds

Abstract

A simple explanation of the problem of the lengths and strengths of carbon—fluorine bonds is proposed. Qualitative molecular orbital (MO) theory is used and it is suggested that the charge transfer from carbon to fluorine is the primary cause of the observed progressive shortening of all bonds from a given carbon atom as the number of fluorines on this atom increases. A reasonable table of carbon—fluorine bond strengths is constructed.