The reaction of chlorodifluoromethane with potassium isopropoxide has been found to produce isopropyl difluoromethyl ether, triisopropyl orthoformate and about 5% of fluoroform with a total yield in excess of 93%. This reaction is shown to involve the initial dehydrochlorination of the haloform to the reactive intermediate, difluoromethylene. All of the plausible paths for the transformation of this intermediate to triisopropyl orthoformate go ...
