Patent ID: 7659433

Claim:
A process for preparing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol substantially free of 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone, said process comprising the steps of: a) reducing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroacetone with hydrogen in the presence of a first hydrogenation catalyst to produce a product mixture comprising 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol and 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone; and b) preparing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol substantially free of 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone by subjecting the product mixture to a purification process comprising at least one purification step selected from the group consisting of: i) subjecting the product mixture to a further reducing with hydrogen in the presence of a second hydrogenation catalyst to yield a reduced product mixture, and separating 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol substantially free of 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone from said reduced product mixture by fractional distillation; iii) subjecting the product mixture, which, for the purposes of this purification step, further comprises a high boiling complex comprising hydrofluoric acid and 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone, to fractional distillation, and separating 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol substantially free of 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone from said high boiling complex by fractional distillation; and iv) subjecting the product mixture to hydrofluoric acid-free conditions wherein 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol forms a high boiling azeotrope with 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone, and separating 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol substantially free of 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone from said high boiling azeotrope by fractional distillation.