Synthetic application of 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (DCTFA) and 3,3,3-trichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (TCTFA) for trifluorolactic acid derivatives

Synthetic application of 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (DCTFA) and 3,3,3-trichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone (TCTFA) for industrially important trifluorolactic acid derivatives is described. Trifluorolactic acid was obtained by hydrolysis of DCTFA under basic conditions. On the other hand, α-substituted trifluorolactic acid derivatives, such as α-methyltrifluorolactic acid and Mosher’s acid, were obtained by addition reaction between TCTFA and carbon nucleophiles, followed by subsequent transformation of trichloromethyl group.