Process for the preparation of fluoroformates

摘要

A process for the preparation of fluoroformates of formula: <IMAGE> in which R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or polycyclic radical, or substituted or unsubstituted araliphatic radical or an aromatic radical, which consists of reacting a carbonate of formula: <IMAGE> in which R1 has the same meaning as hereinabove and R2 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5-12 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms or R2 is aryl, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more halogen atoms, with an alkali or alkaline earth fluoride, ammonium fluoride or a quaternary ammonium fluoride, of formula FNR3R4R5R6, wherein R3, R4, R5, R6 are the same or different and are hydrogen, alkyl or aralkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms or a fluoride which is KHF2, NH4HF2 or KSO2F. The fluoride is activated by a complexing agent for the cation which is a cryptate, a cyclic or linear polyether or by means of a polar aprotic compound. The carbonate is split to give a reaction mixture containing an aldehyde and the fluoroformate which is removed from the reaction mixture.