Glass-Facilitated Thermal Decomposition of Difluoromethoxy Arenes

This report describes a comprehensive differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) evaluation of difluoromethoxy-containing aromatic building blocks. Central to this evaluation is a comparison between DSC thermograms obtained in a glass capillary and those obtained in a gold-plated crucible. The decomposition of difluoromethoxybenzene is shown to be autocatalytic in a glass capillary. A diverse series of difluoromethoxy arenes were evaluated, and most exhibited dichotomous, vessel-dependent decomposition. This distinction raises concerns about glass-facilitated thermal decomposition and safety concerns regarding materials of reactor construction. This study underscores the importance of reactive chemistry evaluations in the development of new fluorinated chemicals, especially when using glass equipment.