Perfluoroalkylethyl iodide hydrolysis

Hydrolysis of 2-perfluoroalkylethyl iodides in the presence of nitrites also gives 2-perfluoroalkylethanols [5/] (equation 51). A variety of solvents can be used, but acetonitrile appears the most effective. Solvents can be avoided by using a betaine surfactant as a phase-transfer catalyst. 

Perfluoroalkylethyl iodides can then be readily converted to the corresponding FTOHs and PFCAs by hydrolysis [4],... 

The hydrolysis of the perfluoroalkylethyl iodides is catalyzed by certain metals. Copper salts (e.g., cupric sulfate) catalyze the hydrolysis of perfluoroalkylethyl iodides in aqueous acetonitrile heated at 160°C for 12 h, followed by heating in 10% NaOH at 70°C for 2 h [85]. A Hoechst patent [86] describes a process for preparing 2-perfluoroalkylethanol by a reaction of the iodide in water containing a metal and a phase transfer agent in an acid medium (pH 1-6). Another Hoechst patent [87] discloses a reaction of 2-perfluoroalkylethyl iodide with a peracid to yield 2-perfluoroalkylethanol. 

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