| abstract |
A process for preparing substituted or unsubstituted trifluoroethoxy- or trifluoroethylthiobenzenes by reaction of a phenol or thiophenol, both of which may be substituted or unsubstituted, with a compound of the formula CF3-CH2-O-R', where R' is a moiety selected from the group consisting of trifluoroacetyl, methanesulfonyl, paratoluenesulfonyl, trichloromethanesulfonyl and chlorosulfonyl, in the presence of a strong alkaline base and a complexing agent of the formula: N-CHR1-CHR2-O-(CHR3-CHR4-O)n-R5]3 (II) wherein n is an integer from 0 to 10 (0 is less than or equal to n is less than or equal to 10), R1, R2, R3 and R4, which may be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an alkyl moiety having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R5 denotes an alkyl or cycloalkyl moiety having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a phenyl moiety or a moiety of the formula: -CmH2m-C6H5 or CmH(2m+1)-C6H4-, where m is from 1 to 12. |