SYNTHESIS OF FLUORINE-COMPOUNDS USING ZINC COMPLEX OF HALOTHANE

We have reported the Grignard reaction of Halothane, 2-bromo-2-chloro- 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (1), with ketones gave unexpected products, ha-( 1-bromo-1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)alcohols (4) at a low temperatur e. However, this reaction hardly proceeded with aldehydes. Now, we fou nd the reaction of 1 with aldehydes in the presence of zinc gave not o nly products of type 4, but alpha-(1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)alcoh ols (3), the expected type of products, under mild conditions in good to moderate yields. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd