Toluene → 1,2-Dihydronaphthalene

The reaction temperature can range from 0° C. to 90° C. In carrying out the reaction, the difluoroketone can be mixed with the entire charge of the fluorinating reagent or the reagent can be added dropwise to a solution of the difluoroketone. Lewis acid catalysts such as boron trifluoride etherate (BF3.Et2O) or HF can be used to accelerate the reaction. The product obtained is usually a mixture of the desired 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro compound and the corresponding 1,1,2,4-tetrafluoro isomer. We have found that both the yield and the isomer ratio are highly dependent on the solvent used. Toluene is unexpectedly superior to other organic solvents in producing a high yield of the desired isomer. For example, when THF was used as solvent at 60° C., a 65% yield of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-6-trans-4-propylcyclohexyl)-1,2-dihydronaphthalene was obtained (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro/1,1,2,4-tetrafluoro=51/49), while when toluene was used as solvent at the same temperature, an 85% yield was obtained (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro/1,1,2,4-tetrafluoro=90/10) under the same reaction conditions.