Methods of enhancing the solubility of a fluorinated compound in an
organic solvent are provided. In one embodiment, carbon dioxide gas
pressure is applied to the solvent at a pressure effective to enhance the
solubility of the fluorinated compound. The method may further include
recrystallizing the fluorinated compound by reducing the pressure of the
carbon dioxide gas. Also provided are methods of conducting a reaction
using a fluorinated compound in an organic solvent. In one embodiment,
the method comprises applying carbon dioxide pressure to an organic
solvent comprising at least one substrate and a fluorinated catalyst, in
an effective amount to solubilize the catalyst; and permitting the
fluorinated catalyst to catalyze the reaction of the substrate to form a
product. The catalyst is optionally separated from the reaction product
and solvent after the reaction by the release of the pressure.