1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-pentafluorophenyl-1,2-epoxypropane and trimethylphosphite: unusual 1,4-dioxan-2,5-dione ring formation

1,1,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-2-pentafluorophenyl-1,2-epoxypropane 1 reacted with trimethylphosphite giving two diastereomers, (Z)- and (E)-3,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-1,4-dioxan-2,5-dione 2a, b in a 1:1 ratio, cyclodimerisation product of the intermediately generated α-lactone 4. Compounds 2a, b were hydrolysed to furnish 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)propionic acid 5.