Fluoro-olefin chemistry Part 20 [1]. Reaction of hexafluoropropene with alcohols

Reaction of hexafluoropropene (HFP) with a series of alcohols under thermal, photochemical or peroxide-initiated conditions affords the 1:1 adducts CF₃CHFCF₂CR¹R²OH (R¹ = H, R² = H, Me, Prⁿ or CF₃; R¹ = Me, R² = Me or Et) in high yield via a radical chain mechanism. Adduct are not formed with the alcohols (CF₃)₂CHOH and CF₃CHFCF₂CH₂OH. Other 1:1 adducts of structure CHF₂CF(CF₃)CH₂OH and CH₃(C₂H₃CF₂CHFCF₃)CH₂OH are formed as minor products in the methanol and $\text{n}$-butanol reactions, respectively.