Process for the preparation of methyltrifluoroacetate

摘要

A process for the preparation of methyltrifluoroacetate. Trifluoroacetic acid is contacted with an excess of methanol and distilled to form a methyltrifluoroacetate/methanol azeotrope. The azeotrope is contacted with trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of a catalytic quantity of a strong acid followed by distillation to obtain methyltrifluoroacetate. The methyltrifluoroacetate can be used as a synthesis intermediate in the pharmaceutical industry.