Selective free-radical dechlorination of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether initiated thermally or by UV light: A practical and 'green' method for isoflurane synthesis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-1139(96)03504-X

Treatment of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether (3) with 2-propanol followed by either irradiation with UV light or heating with radical initiators gives the inhalational anesthetic isoflurane. Unlike most other common dechlorination methods, monoreduction is the exclusive process and the by-products acetone and HC1 are relatively benign. Some comments about the mechanism of the reduction will be presented, along with solutions to problems encountered during scale-up.