Dibromodifluoromethane → 4-bromo-4,4-difluorobutanoic acid

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Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of acrylic acid (1.44 g) and acetonitrile (80 cm3) was added sodium dithionite (4.18 g), sodium bicarbonate (2.01 g), water (20 cm3) and finally dibromodifluoromethane (5 cm3). The biphasic mixture was stirred at the ambient temperature with the inorganic salts gradually dissolving. GC analysis after 4 hours indicated complete consumption of acrylic acid. The aqueous phase was saturated with solid sodium chloride. The organic phase was separated, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a pale yellow oil with a small amount of a white solid. This mixture was taken up in ethyl acetate, filtered and solvent evaporated under reduced pressure to give a pale yellow oil (2.54 g). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 2.45(2H,t); 2.65(H,m).

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