Mechanistic Aspects of Carbon Monoxide Formation from Volatile Anesthetics

Abstract

A difluoromethoxy group is a structural requirement for haloether degradation to CO. Results are consistent with initial base-catalyzed difluoromethoxy proton abstraction (potassium > sodium hydroxide, thus greater CO formation with barium hydroxide lime vs. soda lime) forming a carbanion (reprotonated by water to regenerate the anesthetic, hence requirements for relatively dry absorbent), carbanion decomposition to a difluorocarbene, and subsequent difluorocarbene reaction to form CO.