2,2-DICHLORO-1,1-DIFLUOROETHYL METHYL ETHER

Manufacturing Process

Into a reactor equipped with agitator and temperature control jacket is charged approximately 100 lb (about 3 lb mols) of methanol, technical. This methanol is used in excess, and so it is both a reactant and a solvent in the synthesis. Approximately 1 US gallon of ion exchange resin beads wet with methanol is then added to the methanol. This is in the hydroxide form with at least 0.7 milliequivalent OH- per milliliter of wet beads. Approximately 190 lb of 1,1- dichloro-2,2-difluoroethylene (about 1.44 lb mols) is then added to the reactor and, within it, to the 100 lb of methanol through a sparge pipe while the beads are kept in suspension by agitation. Coolant is run through the jacket of the reactor during this addition because the reaction is exothermic. The temperature in the reaction medium is kept at 10° to 20°C, to prevent side reactions and to minimize losses of the dichlorodifluoroethylene, which boils at 17°C. Reaction time is affected by the rate of heat removal and the reaction normally takes from 4 to 8 hours, using the stated quantities and conditions. After the dichlorodifluoroethylene is added, the resin is checked for residual alkalinity. If the resin is alkaline to phenolphthalein, it is assumed to have been of sufficient capacity and is removed from the CH3OCF2CHCI2-methanol mixture. If it is not alkaline to phenolphthalein, additional resin is added to insure complete reaction. Essentially the same procedure can be carried out, employing as alkali any strongly alkaline substance, such as caustic soda in methanol solution. Control of the reaction rate may be accomplished by the rate of the addition of reactants and the amount of cooling applied to the reaction mixture. Agitation is employed to insure efficient contact of the reactants. After removal of the resin catalyst, the excess methanol is extracted out of the mixture using three separate water washes, suitably of 25 gallons each. The water layer is decanted off, leaving product as an immiscible organic layer, after each wash. The 2,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethyl methyl ether containing intolerable unsaturated impurities may be purified and stabilized by a treatment with oxidizing agents such as air, oxygen, ozone, peroxy compounds, or other similar oxidizing agents, with subsequent removal of the decomposition or oxidation products and distilling if desired.

Biological Functions

Methoxyflurane (Penthrane) is the most potent inhalational agent available, but its high solubility in tissues limits its use as an induction anesthetic. Its pharmacological properties are similar to those of halothane with some notable exceptions. For example, since methoxyflurane does not depress cardiovascular reflexes, its direct myocardial depressant effect is partially offset by reflex tachycardia, so arterial blood pressure is better maintained. Also, the oxidative metabolism of methoxyflurane results in the production of oxalic acid and fluoride concentrations that approach the threshold of causing renal tubular dysfunction. Concern for nephrotoxicity has greatly restricted the use of methoxyflurane.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

2,2-DICHLORO-1,1-DIFLUOROETHYL METHYL ETHER may be sensitive to prolonged exposure to light.

Health Hazard

Methoxyflurane exhibited low to very lowacute toxicity via inhalation, slightly lowerthan that of ethrane. Oral toxicity was low tomoderate depending on the species. Inhala tion of its vapors at 1.5–2% by volumeconcentrations in air can cause anesthesia inhumans. The toxic symptoms are similar tothose of ethrane, and the target organs areprimarily the central nervous system, kidney,and liver. At subanesthetic concentrations of0.3–0.5% by volume in air, its exposure tohumans for 1 hour resulted in the onset oflow toxicity. The sites of biological effectswere in the kidney.LC50 value, inhalation (mice): 17,500 ppm/2 hrLD50 value, oral (mammals): 3600 mg/kgThe liquid may be an irritant to theeyes. The teratomeric properties of this com pound were observed in rats and mice. Thesymptoms were embryo deaths and develop mental abnormalities in the urogenital andmusculoskeletal systems.No carcinogenic actions in animals orhumans have been reported. The histidinereversion–Ames test for mutagenicity wasinconclusive.

Fire Hazard

2,2-DICHLORO-1,1-DIFLUOROETHYL METHYL ETHER is combustible.

Veterinary Drugs and Treatments

Methoxyflurane is an inhalant anesthetic, but it is rarely used today primarily due to its potential for causing nephrotoxicity, slow onset of action (a short-acting barbiturate is often used as an induction agent), and prolonged recovery time. However, it does produce some muscle relaxation and analgesia, even at relatively low concentrations and can be administered without a precision vaporizer as it will vaporize to a maximum of about 3%.

Definition

ChEBI: An ether in which the two groups attached to the central oxygen atom are methyl and 2,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethyl.

Brand name

Penthrane (Abbott).

General Description

Methoxyflurane is a volatile liquid (bp＝105°C) with a highblood:gas partition coefficient and thus a slow induction andprolonged recovery. Approximately 75% of the drug undergoesmetabolism yielding dichloroacetate, difluoromethoxyacetate,oxalate, and fluoride ions. The intrarenal inorganicfluoride concentration, as a result of renal defluorination, maybe responsible for the nephrotoxicity seen with methoxyflurane.Both the concentration of F- generated and the durationfor which it remained elevated were factors in the developmentof methoxyflurane nephrotoxicity. Methoxyfluranewas removed from the U.S. market in 2000 because of saferalternatives. Both isoflurane and enflurane produce less fluorideion upon metabolism than methoxyflurane.