PROCESS FOR PREPARING FLUORINE-CONTAINING CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTER

Abstract: (a) A fluorine-containing alkyl halide of formula CR¹R²R³-CR⁴R⁵X, where R¹ is F or a polyfluorocarbon group, R² to R⁵ are each H, Cl-10 alkyl, aralkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, (substituted) phenyl or naphthyl, and R² and R³ can be F, or two R's can complete a ring, is reacted with (b) an alcohol of formula HCR⁶R⁷OH where R⁶ and R⁷ are as defined for R⁴ and R⁵ or they may complete a ring (e.g. ethanol) and (c) carbon monoxide optionally diluted with an inert gas, in the presence as catalyst of a Group VIII transition metal or a compound thereof (e.g. a chloro phosphine Pd compound), e.g. in an autoclave at 20 to 120°C for 2 to 50 hours, optionally with an inert solvent. After chromatographic purification the product obtained in good yield is the carboxylic acid ester of formula (I) The alcohol is preferably used in at least equimolar amount to the alkyl halide, which can be formed in situ .

Description: This invention relates to a process for preparing a fluorine-containing carboxylic acid ester. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel process for preparing a fluorine-containing carboxylic acid ester of a general formula shown below. At present, fluorine-containing carboxylic acids are used for a wide variety of utilities such as surface active agents or surface treating agents because of their excellent stability, chemical resistance, weather resistance, water- and oil-repellency, and are also useful as intermediates for the synthesis of physiologically active substances. The fluorine-containing carboxylic acid esters obtained by the process of this invention are important intermediates for the synthesis of various useful compounds having the above-described properties. Typical conventional processes for preparing fluorine-containing carboxylic acid ester derivatives comprise the Reppe method using a fluorine-containing substituted ethylene. Examples of the conventional processes include (l) a process comprising reacting a perfluorooctylethylene with carbon monoxide at 380 atms. in ethanol in the presence of a palladium catalyst and an alcoholic hydrogen chloride at a temperature of l40°C for 7 hours to obtain a mixture of ethyl α- and β-perfluorooctylpropionate, as described in German OLS No. 2l377l2; (2) a process comprising reacting trifluoropropene with an alcohol in the presence of a divalent palladium catalyst having a tertiary phosphine ligand under a carbon monoxide pressure of ll0 atms. at a temperature of from l00 to l25°C for a period of from 30 to 70 hours to obtain a mixture of ethyl α- and β-trifluoromethylpropionate, as described in T. Fuchikami, K. Ohishi and I. Ojima, J. Org. Chem. , Vol. 48, 3803 (l983), etc. However, each of the above conventional processes (l) and (2) is not advantageous in that the selectivity to the position of carbon atom where carbonylation occurs is low. That is, although ethyl β-perfluoroalkyl propionate is produced preferentially, an α-substituted product is also produced in a substantial amount, and these products are difficult to separate into the respective pure product. Further, the above conventional processes require a carbon monoxide pressure higher than l00 atms. and, hence, are very expensive in order to ensure the safety of the process. As a result of extensive studies for overcoming the disadvantages of the conventional processes, the present inventors found that a single carbonylated product, i.e., a fluorine-containing carboxylic acid ester represented by the formula (I) can be produced in high yield according to the process of this invention. This invention relates to a process for preparing a fluorine-containing carboxylic acid ester represented by the formula (I) wherein R¹ represents a fluorine atom or a polyfluorocarbon group, R² and R³ each represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group, and R² and R³, R² and R⁴, R³ and R⁵, R⁴ and R⁵, or R⁶ and R⁷, when taken together with the carbon atom(s) to which they are attached, can form a ring, which comprises reacting a fluorine-containing alkyl halide represented by the formula (II) wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above, and X represents an iodine atom, a bromine atom or a chlorine atom, with carbon monoxide and an alcohol represented by the formula (III) wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are as defined above, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst of the Group VIII of the Periodic Table and a base. The term "alkyl group" as used herein means a straight or branched chain alkyl group having l to l0 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group having 3 to l0 carbon atoms. The term "alkenyl group" as used herein means an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms. The term "aryl group" as used herein means a phenyl or naphthyl group, or a phenyl group substituted with at least one of halogen atoms, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, nitro, acyl, acyloxy and amino groups. The term "aralkyl group" as used herein means an aralkyl group having the above aryl moiety and an alkyl group having l to l0 carbon atoms. In the process of this invention, it is essential to conduct the reaction in the presence of a transition metal catalyst of the Group VIII of the Periodic Table. The transition metal catalysts which can be used include metallic iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium or platinum; a metal salt, a metal complex compound, an organometallic complex containing a halogen atom ligand, an organometallic complex containing a tertially phosphine ligand, and an organometallic complex containing an olefin or acetylene compound as a ligand of the above metal, as well as the above transition metal or metal compound of the Group VIII supported on a carrier such as silica gel or alumina. Suitable examples of the catalyst include iron carbonyl, ruthenium carbonyl, osmium carbonyl, nickel carbonyl, iron chloride, cobalt chloride, ruthenium chloride, rhodium chloride, nickel chloride, palladium chloride, platinum chloride, dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel, dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, dichloro(l,2-bisdiphenylphosphinoethane)palladium, dichloro(l,3-bisdiphenylphosphinopropane)palladium, dichloro(l,4-bisdiphenylphosphinobutane)palladium, dichloro(l,l′-bisdiphenylphosphinoferrocene)palladium, dichlorobis(diphenylmethylphosphine)palladium, dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, bis(cyclooctadiene)nickel, dichloro(cyclooctadiene)palladium, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)nickel, chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium, chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)iridium, chlorocarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium, chlorocarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)iridium and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum. The transition metal catalyst of the Group VIII can be used in an amount of from 1/10000 to 1/5 molar equivalent to the fluorine-containing alkyl halide of the formula (II), preferably, l/500 to l/5 molar equivalent to the compound of formula (II). The process according to the present invention is carried out in the presence of a base. Examples of bases which can be used in the present invention include inorganic bases such as hydrides, hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates or carboxylates of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals; alkali metal alkoxides and alkali metal amide; tertiary amines such as triethylamine, tri(isobutyl)amine or N,N-dimethylaniline; and aromatic amines such as pyridine or 2,6-lutidine. The base can be used in an amount of from 0.5 to 5 molar equivalent to the fluorine-containing alkyl halide of the formula (II). The fluorine-containing alkyl halides represented by the formula (II) used as a starting material of this invention are easily available as commercial products, and examples of the alkyl halides include l,l,l-trifluoro-2-iodoethane, l,l,l-trifluoro-2-bromoethane, l,l,l-trifluoro-2-chloroethane, l,l,l-trifluoro-3-iodopropane, l,l,l-trifluoro-3-bromopropane, l,l,l-trifluoro-3-chloropropane, l-fluoro-2-iodopropane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-chloroethane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluoroisopropyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluoropentyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluoroheptyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluorodecyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluorocyclohexyl-2-iodoethane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluoroisopropyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluoropentyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluoroheptyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-bromoethane, l-perfluorodecyl-2-bromoethane, l-trifluoromethyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluoroheptyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodopropane, l-perfluorodecyl-2-iodopropane, l-trifluoromethyl-2-iodobutane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-iodobutane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-iodobutane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodobutane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodobutane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodobutane, l-trifluoromethyl-2-iodopentane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-iodopentane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-iodopentane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodopentane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodopentane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodopentane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-iodohexane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodohexane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodohexane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodohexane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodooctane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodooctane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodocyclohexane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodocyclopentane, 5-iodo-6-perfluorooctyl-2-hexanone, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodo-3-phenylpropane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodo-7-octene, l-perfluoroheptyl-2-bromo-9-decene, l-perfluorononyl-2-chloro-5-hexene, l-(3-cyclohexenyl)-l-iodoperfluorobutylethane, l-perfluorohexylmethyl-l-iodocyclohexane, l-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-l-bromocyclohexane, l-perfluorooctylmethyl-l-chlorocyclopentane, l-perfluorobutylmethyl-l-iodo-4-cyclooctene, l-iodomethyl-l-perfluoroethylcyclohexane, l-bromomethyl-l-perfluorodecylcyclooctane, l-chloromethyl-l-trifluoromethylcyclopentane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-bromo-3-phenylpropane, l-iodo-l-trifluoromethyl-4-phenyl-3-propene, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodo-4-methylhexane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodo-4-methylhexane, l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodo-4-methylhexane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-ethyl-2-iodohexane, l-perfluoroisopropyl-2-iodo-2,4-dimethylhexane, l-perfluorobutyl-2-iodo-2-cyclohexylethane, l-trifluoromethyl-2-iodo-2-cyclohexylethane, l-perfluoroethyl-2-iodo-2-cyclohexylethane, l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodo-2-cyclohexylethane, l-trifluoromethyl-2-iodo-2-cyclopentylethane, l-perfluoropropyl-2-iodo-2-cyclopentylethane and l-perfluorohexyl-2-iodo-2-cyclopentylethane. The alcohols represented by the formula (III) which can be used in the present invention include straight or branched chain or cyclic alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanols, butanols, pentanols and hexanols; benzyl alcohol, 2-phenyl-1-ethanol, furfuryl alcohol and 3-butene-1-ol. The alcohol is preferably used in an amount of at least an equimolar amount to the fluorine-containing alkyl halide represented by the formula (II), and any excess amount of the alcohol can be used so as to serve as a diluent. The process according to the present invention is carried out in an atmosphere of carbon monoxide which may be diluted with an inert gas such as argon, nitrogen or the like. The reaction proceeds efficiently under a carbon monoxide partial pressure below about 50 atms., but a higher pressure can be used, if desired. In carrying out the process of this invention, an inert solvent which does not take part in the reaction may be additionally used, if desired. A preferred solvent includes that forms a single reaction phase, but the solvent which forms a second liquid phase in the reaction mixture may also be used. Examples of solvents which can be preferably used include hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc., and polar solvents such as acetonitrile, dichloromethane, acetone, chloroform, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, etc. The reaction according to the present invention can be carried out at a temperature of from about 20 to about l50°C, preferably 40 to l20°C, for a period of from about 2 to about 50 hours, preferably from 8 to 40 hours. The reaction of the present invention can be conducted in a pressure-resistant sealed vessel, e.g., in an autoclave, by charging the starting materials, the catalyst, the base and the solvent, if used, and then charging carbon monoxide to a predetermined pressure, and, after sealing the reaction vessel, heating the mixture, preferably with stirring. Alternatively, in the process of this invention, the fluorine-containing alkyl halide represented by the formula (II) wherein R¹ represents a polyfluorocarbon group, one of R² and R³ represents a hydrogen atom and the other of R¹ and R³ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aralkyl group can be formed in the reaction system in situ by using an olefin of the formula (IV) wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aralkyl group, and a polyfluoroalkyl halide of the formula (V) R¹X (V) wherein R¹ represents a polyfluorocarbon group and X represents an iodine atom, a bromine atom or a chlorine atom. As described in T. Fuchikami and I. Ojima, Tetrahedron Lett ., Vol. 25, 303, 307 (l984), the above polyfluoroalkyl halide of the formula (V), in particular, that having a perfluoroalkyl group for R¹ and an iodine atom for X, easily undergoes an addition reaction to the above olefin of the formula (IV) in the presence of a catalyst of transition metal complex (e.g., a complex of Fe, Co, Ru, Pd, Ni, etc.) to form a compound represented by the formula (VI) wherein R, R¹, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above, which corresponds to a starting material represented by the formula (II). Thus, the starting material of the formula (II) can be formed in situ in the reaction system from the compounds of formulae (IV) and (V). The present invention is further illustrated in greater detail by the following Examples, but is not limited thereto. Unless otherwise indicated, all percents, parts, ratios and the like are by weight. The symbols "Me", "Et", "Bu" and "Ph" stand for a methyl group, an ethyl group, a butyl group and a phenyl group, respectively. Example 1 C₈F₁₇CH₂CH₂I + CO + EtOH → C₈F₁₇CH₂CH₂COOEt A 30 ml stainless steel autoclave was charged with dichlorobis(triphenylphospine)palladium [(Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂] (l4.4 mg, 0.02 mmol), l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodoethane (0.288 g, 0.50 mmol) and Et₃N (70 µl, 0.50 mmol), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 30 atms., the mixture was reacted at 80°C for 40 hours. The reaction mixture was extracted with hexane, and the extract was washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off, and the resulting residue was subjected to isolation and purification by silica gel column chromatography to recover l4% l-perfluoro-2-iodoethane and to obtain ethyl 3-perfluorooctylpropionate in a yield of 74% (86% conversion yield). IR (neat)ν C=O : l745 cm⁻¹ ¹H-NHR (CDCl₃, TMS)δ: l.28 (3H, t, J=7Hz), 2.2 -2.8 (4H, br), 4.l8 (2H, q, J=7Hz). Example 2 C₈F₁₇CH₂CH₂I + CO + EtOH → C₈F₁₇CH₂CH₂COOEt A 20 ml stainless steel autoclave was charged with C₈F₁₇CH₂CH₂I (0.574 g, l mmol), Co₂(CO)₈ (34 mg, 0.l mmol), EtOH (3 ml) and Et₃N (0.l27 ml, 0.9 mmol), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 50 atms., the mixture was stirred at l00°C for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was extracted with diethyl ether, washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, and the resulting residue was isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 0.286 g (55% yield) of ethyl 3-perfluorooctylpropionate. Example 3 C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂I + CO + (i)BuOH → C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂COO(i)Bu A 30 ml stainless steel autoclave was charged with C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂I (0.268 ml, l mmol), (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ (35.5 mg, 0.05 mmol), Et₃N (0.l4 ml, l mmol) and (i)BuOH (2 ml), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 30 atms., the mixture was reacted at l00°C for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 0.l9 g (42% yield) of isobutyl 3-perfluorohexylpropionate. IR (neat) ν C=O : l735 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ: 0.93 (6H, d, J=7Hz), l.97 (lH, sep, J=7Hz), 2.23 - 2.9 (4H, br), 3.94 (2H, d, J=7Hz) Example 4 C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂I + CO + EtOH → C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂COOEt The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example 3, except that EtOH (2 ml) was used instead of (i)BuOH used in Example 3, and 0.24 g (57% yield) of ethyl 3-perfluorohexylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O : l740 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ: l.27 (3H, t, J=7Hz), 2.l -3.0 (4H, br), 4.2 (2H, q, J=7Hz). Example 5 C₄H₉CH₂CH₂I + CO + (i)BuOH → C₄H₉CH₂CH₂COO(i)Bu The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example 3, except that C₄H₉CH₂CH₂I (0.l92 ml, l mmol) was used instead of C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂I used in Example 3, and 0.l63 g (47% yield) of isobutyl 3-perfluorobutylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O : l740 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ: 0.93 (6H, d, J=7Hz), l.97 (lH, sept, J=7Hz), 2.22 - 3.0 (4H, br), 3.93 (2H, d, J=7Hz). Example 6 C₄F₉CH₂CH₂I + CO + (n)BuOH → C₄F₉CH₂CH₂COO(n)Bu The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example 5, except that (n)BuOH (0.9l ml, 9.9 mmol) and heptane (0.09 ml) were used instead of (i)BuOH used in Example 5, and 0.l5 g (44% yield) of butyl 3-perfluorobutylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O : l740 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ : 0.95 (3H, t, J=7.2Hz), l.l3 - 2.0 (4H, m), 2.l - 2.9 (4H, br), 4.l7 (2H, t, J=7Hz). Example 7 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example 3, except that (CF₃)₂CFCH₂CH₂I (0.l68 ml, l mmol) was used instead of C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂I and (n)BuOH (2 ml) was used instead of (i)BuOH used in Example 3, and 0.l04 g (35% yield) of butyl 3-perfluoroisopropylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O l740 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ : 0.94 (3H, t, J=7.2Hz), l.l - l.9 (4H, br), 2.2 - 2.9 (4H, br), 4.l5 (2H, t, J=7.2Hz). Example 8 CF₃CH₂CH₂I + CO + EtOH → CF₃CH₂CH₂COOEt A 20 ml stainless steel autoclave was charged with (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ (34.7 mg, 0.05 mmol), CF₃CH₂CH₂I (56 µl, 0.5 mmol), Et₃N (70 µl, 0.50 mmol) and EtOH (l ml), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 50 atms., the mixture was stirred at l20°C for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography and found that ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorobutylate was produced in 93% yield. Example 9 CF₃CH₂CH₂I + CO + EtOH → CF₃CH₂CH₂COOEt The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example 8, except that Co₂(CO)₈ (l7.l mg, 0.05 mmol) was used instead of (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ and the reaction temperature of l20°C was used instead of l00°C used in Example 8, and ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorobutylate was obtained in a yield of 65%. Example l0 A 30 ml of stainless steel autoclave was charged with (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ (34.8 mg, 0.05 mmol), C₈F₁₇CH₂CH(C₄H₉)I (360 µl, l mmol), Et₃N (0.l4 ml, l.0 mmol) and EtOH (l ml), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 30 atms, the mixture was stirred at 80°C for l2 hours. The reaction mixture was isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain 0.43 g (75% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ : 0.90 (3H, t, J=7Hz), l.27 (3H, t, J=7Hz), l.32 (4H, m), l.58 (lH, m), l.70 (lH, m), 2.l2 (lH, m), 2.68 (lH, m), 2.78 (lH, m), 4.l8 (3H, q, J=7Hz). Example ll The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example l0, except that a mixture of EtOH (0.6 ml) and heptane (0.4 ml) was used instead of EtOH (l ml) used in Example l0, and 0.423 g (73% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. Example l2 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example ll, except that dichloro(l,4-bisdiphenylphosphinobutane)palladium (30.4 mg, 0.05 mmol) was used instead of (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ used in Example ll, and 0.323 g (56% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. Example l3 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example ll, except that dichloro(l,2-bisdiphenylphosphinoethane)palladium (29.l mg, 0.05 mmol) was used instead of (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ used in Example ll, and 0.326 g (57% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. Example l4 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example ll, except that dichloro(l,l′-bisdiphenylphosphinoferrocene)palladium (36.7 mg, 0.05 mmol) was used instead of (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂, and 0.476 (83% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. Example l5 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example ll, except for using dichloro(l,3-bisdiphenylphosphinopropane)palladium (29.9 mg, 0.05 mmol) instead of (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ used in Example ll, and 0.3l2 g (54% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. Example l6 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example ll, except that RhCl(PPh₃)₃ (46.2 mg, 0.05 mmol) was used instead of (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ used in Example ll, and 0.275 g (48% yield) of ethyl 2-butyl-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. Example l7 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example l0, except that a mixture of methanol (0.4 ml) and heptane (0.6 ml) was used instead of EtOH (l ml) used in Example l0, and 0.356 g (68% yield) of methyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O : l745 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ : 0.9 (3H, t, J=7Hz), l.l -l.9 (6H, m), l.93 - 3.0 (3H, m), 3.75 (3H, s). Example l8 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example l0, except that C₄F₉CH₂CH(C₆H₁₃)I (0.30 ml, l mmol) was used instead of C₈F₁₇CH₂CH(C₄H₉)I used in Example l0, and 0.22 g (54% yield) of ethyl 2-hexyl-3-perfluorobutylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O : l735 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ: 0.9 (3H, br), l.27 (l3H, br), l.9 - 3.0 (3H, m), 4.22 (2H, q, J=7.2Hz). Example l9 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example l8, except that C₆F₁₃CH₂CH(I)CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ (0.328 ml, l mmol) and (n)BuOH were used instead of C₄F₉CH₂CH(C₆H₁₃)I and EtOH used in Example l8, and 0.24 g (46% yield) of butyl 2-(2-methylbutyl)-3-perfluorohexylpropionate. IR (neat) ν C=O l745 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ : 0.93 (9H, br), l.l - 2.l (9H, br), 2.l - 3.l (3H, m), 4.l3 (2H, t, J=7Hz). Example 20 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example l9, except that C₈F₁₇CH₂CH(C₆H₁₃)I (0.394 ml, l mmol) was used instead of C₆F₁₃CH₂CH(I)CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ in Example l9, and 0.34 g (54% yield) of butyl 2-hexyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained. IR (neat) ν C=O : l735 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ : 0.93 (6H, br), l.3 (l4H, br), l.9 - 3.0 (3H, m), 4.l4 (2H, t, J-_7Hz) Example 2l A 30 ml stainless steel autoclave was charged with (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ (4.l mg, 0.0065 mmol), potassium carbonate (36.l mg, 0.26 mmol), l-perfluorooctyl-2-iodohexane (40 µl) and ethanol (0.5 ml), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at l0 atms., the mixture was reacted at 80°C for l2 hours to obtain ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate in 47% yield. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, TMS) δ: 0.90 (3H, t, J=7Hz), l.27 (3H, t, J=7Hz), l.32 (4H, m), l.58 (lH, m), l.70 (lH, m), 2.l2 (lH, m), 2.68 (lH, m), 2.78 (lH, m), 4.l8 (3H, q, J=7Hz). Example 22 A 30 ml of stainless steel autoclave was charged with dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (l2.6 mg, 0.0l7 mmol), potassium carbonate (73.2 mg, 0.52 mmol), ethanol (l ml), l-hexene (l08 µl, 0.86 mmol) and C₈F₁₇I (l32 µl, 0.50 mmol), and, after carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 30 atms., the mixture was reacted at 80°C for l2 hours. The reaction mixture was extracted with n-hexane, washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The quantitative analysis of the resulting residue showed that ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was produced in 67% yield. Example 23 The reaction was conducted in the same manner as described in Example 22, except that dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)platinum was used instead oF dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium used in Example 22, and ethyl 2-butyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate was obtained in 39% yield. Example 24 A stainless steel autoclave was charged with (Ph₃P)₂PdCl₂ (13.9 mg, 0.019 mmol), ethanol (1.5 ml), allylbenzene (131 )µl, l mmol), C₈F₁₇I (132 µl, 0.50 mmol) and triethylamine (70 µl, 0.50 mmol), and carbon monoxide was charged into the autoclave at 30 atms. The mixture was then reacted at 80°C for 24 hours to obtain ethyl 2-benzyl-3-perfluorooctylpropionate in 37% yield. IR (neat) ν C=O : 1742 cm⁻¹. ¹H-NMR (CDC1₃ TMS) δ: 1.16 (3H, t, J=7Hz), l.87 - 3.27 (5H, br), 4.l3 (2H, q, J=7Hz), 7.3 (5H, m) N.B 1 atm = 1.01325 bar.

Claims: A process for preparing a fluorine-containing carboxylic acid ester represented by the formula (I) wherein R¹ represents a fluorine atom or a polyfluorocarbon group, R² and R³ each represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group or an aryl group, and R² and R³, R² and R⁴, R³ and R⁵, R⁴ and R⁵ or R⁶ and R⁷, when taken together with the carbon atom(s) to which they are attached, can form a ring, and each alkyl or alkenyl moiety has not more than 10 carbon atoms and each aryl moiety is a phenyl or naphthyl moiety or phenyl substituted with at least one of halogen atoms and alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, nitro, acyl, acyloxy and amino groups; which comprises reacting a fluorine-containing alkyl halide represented by the formula (II) wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above, and X represents an iodine atom, a bromine atom or a chlorine atom, with carbon monoxide and an alcohol represented by the formula (III) wherein R⁶ and R⁷ are as defined above, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst of the Group VIII of the Periodic Table and a base. A process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said reaction is conducted in a sealed vessel at a temperature of from 20 to 150°C. A process as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said transition metal catalyst is metallic iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium or platinum, or a compound thereof. A process as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said transition metal catalyst is used in an amount of from 1/10000 to 1/5 molar equivalent to the fluorine-containing alkyl halide of the formula (II). A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said base is used in an amount of from 0.5 to 5 molar equivalent to the fluorine-containing alkyl halide of the formula (II). A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said reaction is conducted in the presence of an inert solvent.

Inventors: FUCHIKAMI, TAKAMASA, ISHII, YOSHIMITSU, OBATA, YOSHIKO, URATA, HISAO
Applicants: SAGAMI CHEMICAL RESEARCH CENTER
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C07C67
IPC codes: C07C67, C07C69