The fluoromethyl ether sevoflurane as a fluoride source in halogen-exchange reactions 1

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-1139(97)00135-8

Fluoromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl) ethyl ether (sevoflurane), fluoromethyl 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl ether, and fluoromethyl 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether are found to be selective fluoride donors in some halogen-exchange reactions. For example, treatment of a mixture of a polychlorinated substrate and one equivalent of sevoflurane with a catalytic amount of antimony pentachloride gives a monofluorinated product and one equivalent of chloromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl) ethyl ether as by-product.