2,2,2-Trinitroethyl and 2-fluoro-2,2-dinitroethyl compounds are important energetic materials, which are used as the ingredients of explosive compositions,1 propellant formulations2 and gas- generating compositions.3 2,2,2-Trinitroethanol 1a and 2-fluoro- 2,2-dinitroethanol 1b are strategic precursors in the synthesis of these compounds.4 The reactivity of electronegatively substituted alcohols is much lower than that of usual alcohols. Moreover, under basic ...