Novel carboxylic acid compound, use thereof, and process for producing the same

A process for producing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-methoxypropane represented by chemical formula (2):

• (CF3)2CH(OCH3), comprising decarboxylating 2-methoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid represented by chemical formula (1):
• (CF3)2C(OCH3)COOH or a salt thereof.

A process for producing 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-methoxypropane represented by chemical formula (2):

• (CF3)2CH(OCH3), comprising reacting 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-methoxy-2-propene represented by chemical formula (4):
• CF2═C(CF3)(OCH3) with one or more fluorinating agents represented by the chemical formula:
• MF.(HF)n, wherein M is H, Na, K, or Cs, and n is an integer from 0 to 2.

A process for producing 2-methoxy-2-trifluoromethyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid represented by chemical formula (1):

• (CF3)2C(OCH3)COOH or a salt thereof, comprising reacting a methylating agent with a hydroxycarboxylic ester represented by general formula (3):
• (CF3)2C(OH)COOR,
• wherein R is a hydrocarbon group, and may contain at least one atom selected from the group consisting of halogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur atoms, and subsequently hydrolyzing the resulting reaction product.