Transesterification of dialkyl carbonates with fluorine-containing alcohols

Reactions of transesterification of dimethyl, diethyl and dibutyl carbonates with 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoroethyl-, 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluorobutyl- and 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluorohexyl-carbinols were investigated in the presence of various catalysts. It was found that the conversion of starting dialkyl carbonate increases upon increasing the length of fluorine-containing radical in the presence of sodium alkoxide. It was shown that the maximum conversion of dimethyl carbonate (90%) was achieved in its reaction with 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentan-1-ol upon using catalysts such as K 2 CO 3 , NaOH, and sodium alkoxide. To achieve similar values of the conversion, Ti(OEt) 4 and Ti(OiPr) 4 should be used in the cases of diethyl and dibutyl carbonates, respectively.