Reactions of aliphatic fluoro-alcohols with CHClF₂ at atmospheric pressure

The reactions of aliphatic fluoro-alcohols with chlorodifluoromethane (CHClF₂) at atmospheric pressure were examined. In the reaction of CF₃CF₂CH₂OH, the difluoromethylated ether was obtained in moderate yield by using ethers such as 1,4-dioxane, diglyme and THF, or their mixtures with water as a reaction solvent. While acetal and orthoformate were also produced, the selectivity of the difluoromethylated ether could be improved by adding water to the reaction. The effect of water could be explained by the reaction mechanism.