Self-promoted nucleophilic addition of hexafluoro-2-propanol to vinyl ethers

In spite of its low nucleophilicity, hexafluoro-2-propanol easily adds to vinyl ethers, without catalyst, to afford a range of hexafluoroisopropyloxy acetals. This addition reaction also occurred in the presence of a competitive, more nucleophilic alcohol. Kinetic studies showed the importance of hydrogen bond parameters in the rate and course of the reaction.