Synthesis of 2,5-diethyl-3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)furan and its derivatives

The addition reaction of propionaldehyde to hexafluoro-2-butyne ( 1 ) under γ-ray irradiation gave trans-6,6,6-trifluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hexen-3-one ( 2 ) and 4,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)octa-3,6-dione ( 3 ). The latter compound was treated with sulfuric acid to give 2,5-diethyl-3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)furan ( 4a ). Several reactions, such as bromination, dehydrobromination and oxidation, were carried out to prepare derivatives of 4a .