Patent ID: 8865947

Claim:
A process for preparation of a compound of Formula (I) R f CH 2 CH 2 OH (I) wherein R f is linear or branched C n F 2n+1 optionally interrupted by at least one oxygen, CH 2 , CH 2 CH 2 , or CH 2 CF 2 ; and n is 1 to 10; comprising a) contacting a compound of formula R f I, wherein R f is defined as above, with an alkyl vinyl ether containing 1 to 4 carbons in the alkyl, in the presence of an initiator and a base to generate a mixture of intermediates comprising an hemi-acetal of Formula (II) and an aldehyde of Formula (III) R f CH 2 CH(OC x H 2x+1 ) m (OH) p (II) R f CH 2 CHO (III) wherein R f is defined as above, m is 0 to 1; and p is 1 to 2; provided that m+p is 2; and x is 1 to 4; and b) hydrogenating, under acidic conditions, the mixture comprising the hemi-acetal of Formula (II) and aldehyde of Formula (III) to yield a compound of Formula (I).