ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS: I. AN IMPROVED SYNTHESIS OF HEXAFLUOROACETONE

Abstract

The synthesis of hexafluoroacetone reported recently by Brice, Lazerte, Hals, and Pearlson has been improved in several particulars. Teflon was depolymerized to tetrafluoroethylene which was then dimerized to give a 50% yield of perfluoroisobutene in one step. Oxidation of the latter at 35–40 °C. with aqueous potassium permanganate gave a 75% yield of hexafluoroacetone hydrate. The vapor pressure of hexafluoroacetone was measured between −60 ° and −28 °C.