α, α-difluoroamines and difluoromethylene-α, α-diazo compounds

1. A process for preparing at least one compound of the formula (I)

wherein

R 1 represents hydrogen, C 1 –C 12 -alkyl, [(C 2 –C 12 -alkylene)-O] n (C 1 –C 12 -alkyl)] where n=1 to 5, C 3 –C 14 -aryl, C 4 –C 15 -arylalkyl or NR 4 R 5 , where R 4 and R 5 each independently of one another represent C 1 –C 8 -alkyl or NR 4 R 5 as a whole represents a 4 to 7-membered cyclic radical having a total of 3 to 16 carbon atoms and

R 2 and R 3 each independently of one another represent C 1 –C 12 -alkyl, C 3 –C 14 -aryl or C 4 –C 15 -arylalkyl, or together are part of a cyclic radical having a total of 3 to 16 carbon atoms, or

R 1 and R 2 and/or R 3 are a cyclic radical having a total of 3 to 16 carbon atoms; comprising reacting compounds of the formula (II)

wherein

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 have the meanings given above in the presence of oxalyl fluoride or a mixture of oxalyl fluoride and difluorophosgene.

2. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction takes place in the presence of organic solvent.

3. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that R 1 represents hydrogen, C 1 –C 12 -alkyl or C 3 –C 6 -aryl.

4. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the radicals R 2 and R 3 each independently of one another represent C 1 –C 8 -alkyl, or NR 2 R 3 , which as a whole, represents N-morpholinyl, N-methyl-1,4-piperazin-N-yl, or R 1 CF 2 R 2 , which as a whole, represents 2,2-difluomimidazolinyl, 2,2-difluoropyrrolidinyl, 2,2-difluoropiperidinyl or [2,2,2]-2,2,5,5-tetrafluoro-1,4-diazabicyclooctane or [2,2,2]-2,2,6,6-tetrafluoro-1,4-diazbicyclo-octane, in which case the radicals are optionally monosubstituted or disubstituted by C 1 –C 4 -alkyl.

5. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the compounds of the formula (I) prepared are: 1,1-difluoromethyl-N,N-dimethylamine, 1,1-difluoromethyl-N,N-diethylamine, 1,1-difluoromethyl-N,N-diisopropyl-amine, 1,1-difluoro-N,N-2-trimethyl-1-propanamine, 1,1-difluoro-N,N-2,2-tetramethyl-1-propanamine, N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1-propanamine, N-(1,1-difluoromethyl)morpholine, 1,1-difluoro-N,N-dimethylphenylmethanamine, N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-3-pyridylmethanamine, N,N-diethyl-α,α-difluoro-2-pyridylmethanamine, diethyl-α,α-difluoro-(4-chlorophenyl)methanamine N,N-diisopropyl-α,α-difluorophenylmethanamine, N,N-diethylyl-α,α-difluorophenylmethanamine, N,N-dimethyl-α,α-difluorophenylmethanamine, 2,2-difluoro-1,3-dimethylimidazolidin, 2,2-difluoro-1,3,3-trimethylpyrrolidine, [2,2,2]-2,2,5,5-tetrafluoro-3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-1,4-diazabicyclooctane and [2,2,2]-2,2,6,6-tetrafluoro-3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-1,4-diazabicyclooctane.

6. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the molar ratio of oxalyl fluoride to compounds of the formula (II) is 0.8:1 to 20:1.

7. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction temperature is from −50° C. to 100° C.

8. A process according to claim 1 , characterized in that the reaction pressure is from 0.8 to 20 bar.

9. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises reacting the resulting compounds of formula (I) with

at least one aprotic, tertiary amine which does not contain fluorine atoms in the α position to the nitrogen and/or at least one N-heteroaromatic compound and

hydrogen fluoride.

10. A process according to claim 9 , characterized in that the molar ratio of aprotic tertiary amine and/or N-heteroaromatic compounds to compounds of the formula (I) is 0.1:1 to 20:1 and the molar ratio of hydrogen fluoride to aprotic tertiary amine is 0.2:1 to 10:1.

11. A process for preparing fluorine compounds from corresponding hydroxyl compounds comprising reacting the hydroxyl compounds with compounds which have been prepared according to claim 9 .

12. A process for preparing for preparing geminal difluorocompounds from the corresponding carbonyl compounds comprising reacting the carbonyl compounds with compounds which have been prepared according to claim 9 .

13. A fluorinating reagent prepared according to the process of claim 9 .