Homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of perfluoro methyl esters

Abstract
The first example of perfluoroalkyl methyl ester RfC(O)OMe (Rf = C3F7, C5F11) reduction by homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation with the ruthenium catalyst Ru-MACHO™ is herein reported. The hydrogenation process leads to the corresponding perfluorinated alcohols thus replacing sodium borohydride that has so far represented the state of art in perfluoro ester reduction.