FORMATION OF TRI-T-BUTYL ORTHOFORMATE AND T-BUTYL DI-T-BUTOXYACETATE IN REACTIONS OF CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE AND DICHLOROFLUOROMETHANE WITH POTASSIUM T-BUTOXIDE

The reaction of dichlorofluoromethane with potassium t-butoxide in t-butyl alcohol solution yields a mixture of cis- and trans-1,2-di-t-butoxy-1,2-difluoroethylene and tri-t-butyl orthoformate. Chlorodifluoromethane yields the same products plus t-butyl difluoromethyl ether. In either case, if the reaction mixture is allowed to become acidic, t-butyl di-t-butoxyacetate may be formed, by solvolysis of the di-t-butoxydifluoroethylenes. The reactions are believed to be initiated by the formation of dihalomethylenes, which are transformed to t-butoxyfluoromethylene, from which the ortho ester and the dialkoxydifluoroethylenes are formed. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.