Heptafluorobutyl acetate: Heptafluorobutanol and isopropyl acetate reaction in the presence of an acidic catalyst – chemistry, phase behavior, batch reactive distillation process

This work studies the reaction between 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutan-1-ol (HFBol) and isopropyl acetate (IPAc) in the presence of an acidic catalyst in a mixing reactor and during the batch reactive distillation (BRD) process. The reaction products, identified using NMR and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, include 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acetate (HFBAc), isopropanol (IPol), acetic acid (AAc), water, diisopropyl ether (IPEth), and heptafluorobutyl isopropyl ether (HFB-IPEth). The system undergoes the following reactions: the transesterification of HFBol and IPAc produces HFBAc and IPol; intermolecular dehydration of IPol and HFBol results in IPEth and HFB-IPEth, while AAc and IPol are formed through the hydration of IPAc. Additionally, the esterification reaction between AAc and HFBol occurs simultaneously, forming HFBAc and water. The study also examines the effects of temperature, pressure, initial reactant ratios, and catalyst concentration on the reaction kinetics, as well as the dynamic aspects of the BRD process. Relationships between conversion and selectivity values and process parameters are established. This article primarily focuses on fluorinated ester technology while also addressing the chemistry of IPol and related processes.