Cristalia Produtos Quimicos Farmaceuticos Ltda.

Edson Luiz Lima

Ogari Pacheco

Antonio Carlos Teixeira

Maria Alice Böckelmann

The present invention refers to a process for the preparation of fluoromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl ether (sevoflurane) which includes a step that consists of reacting hexafluoroisopropanol with a formaldehyde equivalent selected among paraformaldehyde or 1,3,5-trioxane, a chlorinating agent selected from the group consisting of oxalyl chloride, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride, phosphorus oxychloride, sulfuryl chloride and thionyl chloride, and a strong acid selected from the group consisting of concentrated or fuming sulfuric acid resulting in the formation of the intermediate sevochlorane which is converted to sevoflurane in a second step which consists of reacting sevochlorane with an alkali metal fluoride, or a linear or branched chain tetra-alkyl quarternary ammonium fluoride in the presence of a sub-stoichiometric quantity of an alkali metal iodide, or a linear or branched alkyl chain tetra-alkyl quarternary ammonium iodide, preferably in a solvent.

Process for the preparation of fluoromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl) ethyl ether

The present invention refers to a process for the preparation of chloromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl) ethyl ether (sevochlorane), which consists of reacting hexafluoroisopropanol with: a formaldehyde equivalent selected between paraformaldehyde or 1,3,5-trioxane, a chlorinating agent selected from the group consisting of oxalyl chloride, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride, phosphorus oxychloride, sulfuryl chloride and thionyl chloride, and a strong acid selected from the group consisting of concentrated or fuming sulfuric acid. Said process provides sevochlorane in high purity and yield, which can be converted to sevoflurane by known means.

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Itapira, Brazil

Edson Luiz Lima