Hydrochloric Acid → 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoro-2-methoxypropanoic acid

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of methyl 2-methoxytetrafluoropropionate formed in Example 1 (41.9 g), water (500 ml) and potassium hydroxide (56 g) was refluxed for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was acidified with 100 ml of equal parts hydrochloric acid and water and extracted with three 200 ml portions of ether. The combined ether extracts were dried over sodium sulfate. After evaporation of the ether, fractional distillation gave 2-methoxytetrafluoropropionic acid (31.0 g. 80%), b.p. 67°-68° (12 mm Hg).

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