What is "difluorocarbene"

n. (context organic chemistry English) The radical F₂C: used in organic synthesis

Difluorocarbene is the chemical compound with formula CF. It has a short half-life, 0.5 and 20 ms, in solution and in the gas phase, respectively. Although highly reactive, difluorocarbene is an intermediate in the production of tetrafluoroethylene, which is produced on an industrial scale as the precursor to Teflon (PTFE).