Surface chemistry of fluoroethanols II. A FTIR study of the reaction of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol on Al2O3 surface

The adsorption and thermal decomposition of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, CF3-CH2-OH, on high-surface-area Al2O3 surfaces were investigated by FTIR under high vacuum conditions. IR spectra were collected in the 4000-1000 cm−1 range and spectral assignments were made. The spectral evidence indicated that CF3-CH2-OH decomposed to form an acetate/formate mixture at 450 K. Surface isolated hydroxyl groups participated in the adsorption/decomposition process. A reaction mechanism is proposed and the role of fluorination for the surface reaction outcome is suggested.