In this issue of Chemistry Today we have decided to give once again an in-depth treatment of Fluorine, a special element with unique properties.

In this mini-review, we report recent advances in the stereoselective synthesis of alpha-Tfm-amino acids starting from chiral CF3-containing building blocks.

Most thermoplastics need surface properties modification to match some specific performances like water and oil repellence, mould release, antifog properties, and printability.

Fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers, which were prepared by the reactions of fluoroalkanoyl peroxides with radical polymerizable monomers, reacted with tetraethoxysilane and silica nanoparticles to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomers/silica nanoparticles under very mild conditions.

This mini-review discusses the role of fluorine in the development of polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications. Fluorine has been used in a variety of roles from providing structural rigidity to providing amphiphilic character to the membranes.

Perfluoroalkylation of aromatics obtained by perfluorodiacyl peroxides decomposition has been studied and rationalized. Products and by-products formed are in agreement with the proposed free radical/one electron transfer mechanism.

Perfluorodioxolane monomers that have an unprecedented polymerization site were synthesized by utilizing a direct fluorination reaction.

The significant expansion in the use of fluorinated chemicals has attracted the attention of peptide chemists. The replacement of the amide bond by fluorine-containing surrogates alters sterically and electronically the properties of the molecules.

Stain resistance and easy-clean properties are becoming increasingly important functions for low maintenance protective coatings.

Polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been studied as electrolytes in lithium ion batteries. They were found to have low ambient ionic conductivities (1-2) and low lithium transference numbers (3).

A practical, efficient, and environmentally benign intramolecular hydroamination of 2-phenylethynyl-N-arylsulfonylanilines was developed using commercially available heptadecafluorooctanesulfonic acid as a catalyst and alpha, alpha, alpha,- trifluorotoluene as a solvent to produce the corresponding indoles in good yields.

Nature makes huge numbers of chemically diverse complex molecules, many of which have biological activity.

Through the multidisciplinary ASP project, some students of Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino had the possibility to face with the peculiar properties of fluorinated compounds.

This contribution gives an overview of the literature regarding the Sharpless Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of alkenes which contain a perfluoroalkyl or a perfluoroalkylidene substituent (hereafter termed “fluorinated alkenes”).