A method for producing 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol in which a γ-hydroxybutyric acid salt is reacted with 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane to generate 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol is provided. This method leads to increased yields of 2,2,2 -trifluoroethanol, facilitates the separation of salt byproducts and allows the recycling of an aprotic polar solvent.
The present invention concerns a method for producing 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol in which a γ-hydroxybutyric acid salt is reacted with 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane in an aprotic polar solvent to generate 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. This method is characterized in that the γ-hydroxybutyric acid salt used contains no more than 6 wt % of 4,4′-oxybis(butyric acid).