Appeal No. 2002-0440
Application 09/113,547
THE INVENTION
The appellants’ claimed invention is directed toward a
method for making a methyl or ethyl ester of trifluoroacetic acid
or chlorodifluoroacetic acid. Claim 1 is illustrative:
1. A method for preparing a methyl or ethyl ester of
trifluoroacetic acid or chlorodifluoroacetic acid, comprising:
reacting an acid chloride of trifluoroacetic acid or
chlorodifluoroacetic acid with a stoichiometric excess of methyl
or ethyl alcohol in the presence of an onium salt of the acid as
catalyst, wherein the molar ratio of alcohol to acid chloride is
selected such that two phases can form;
allowing an upper phase and a lower phase to form, one phase
being an ester phase which contains the ester in a purity,
achievable without a distillation stage, of at least 95% by
weight; and
separating said ester phase.
THE REFERENCES
Feist et al. (Feist) 5,405,991 Apr. 11, 1995
Braun et al. (Braun) 5,532,411 Jul. 2, 1996
THE REJECTION
Claims 1 and 3-9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
being unpatentable over Braun in view of Feist.
OPINION
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