11Difluoroethanol

1,1-Difluoroethanol is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C2H4F2O. It is a derivative of ethanol where two hydrogen atoms on the first carbon atom have been replaced by fluorine atoms. The compound is a colorless liquid at room temperature. Its structure consists of a two-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to one carbon and two fluorine atoms attached to the same carbon. The presence of fluorine atoms significantly alters the chemical properties compared to ethanol.

1,1-Difluoroethanol is a polar molecule due to the electronegativity of the fluorine atoms and the oxygen atom. It is soluble in water and many organic solvents. The compound can undergo reactions typical of alcohols, such as esterification and oxidation, though the fluorine substituents can influence reaction rates and pathways. Its synthesis can be achieved through various fluorination methods. 1,1-Difluoroethanol finds applications in organic synthesis as a building block for more complex fluorinated molecules. These fluorinated compounds are of interest in pharmaceuticals and materials science due to the unique properties conferred by fluorine.