Sevoflurane → 1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-(fluoromethoxy)-1-propene

Participants

Reaction Steps

30 grams of sevoflurane (0.15 mols) was cooled to about −36.2° C. under nitrogen. Approximately 10 mL of a 3.0 M solution of CH3Li/CH2(OC2H5)2 (0.03 mols of the base) was added over 29 minutes while maintaining a temperature between about −37.5° C. and about −30.5° C. After addition of the methyl lithium was complete, the addition funnel was washed with a few mL of diethoxymethane. The reaction mixture was then stirred for approximately 20 minutes at a temperature between about −39° C. and about −35° C. A vacuum (0.3 mmHg) applied to the reaction mixture for approximately 1 hour, 46 minutes while the reaction mixture was held at a temperature between about −38.5° C. and about 10.7° C. afforded approximately 30.0 grams of a crude liquid product. GC analysis of this liquid showed it contained 22.8% compound A, 47.1% unreacted sevoflurane, and 29.7% diethoxymethane.

Provenance & Evidence