Potassium Carbonate → Hexafluoroacetone monohydrate

In a 50-ml three-necked flask were placed 7.85 g (17.8 mmol) of the 56.8% aqueous potassium 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxypropionate solution prepared in Reference Example 1 and 2.46 g (17.8 mmol) of potassium carbonate. 16 g of water was added to dissolve the mixture. The pH was 13. The reaction was performed by blowing chlorine gas at 20 ml/min for 37 minutes (33 mmol, 1.85 eq.) while stirring the solution under heat at 40° C. in a water bath. The pH when the reaction was complete was 6.6. Hexafluoroacetone hydrate was obtained at a starting material conversion of 99.7% with a selectivity of at least 99%.