[Doormatt1117]

Hi there,
I've been wondering what the products would be when sodium trifluoroacetate (Na[TFA]) is thermally decomposed without water.

some papers have proposed:
1) Na CF3COO + H2O -> CF3H + CO2 + NaOH
2) Na CF3COO + H2O -> NaF + 2HF + CO + C + O2
3 )Na CF3COO -> NaF + CF2O + CO ------- CF2O is carbonyl fluoride and reacts with water to form CO2 and HF
4 )Na CF3COO + H2O -> NaF + CF2 + CO2 -------- CF2 is difluorocarbene and is extremely unstable and reactive

given that I know the final product contains some NaF and water is scarcely if at all present then my guess for the most likely reaction would be (3) but there is no reference I can find definitively stating this as fact.

NOTE: the reaction takes place in a round bottom flask at 310 degrees Celsius under argon flow in an octadecene (ODE) solvent.

Is there anyone who knows what the actual reaction mechanism is?

[chenbeier]

I think in water it will only dissolved and nothing more happens. You will get sodium ions and trifluoroacetate anions.
Write die equation for it.
The dry salt will react similar like normal acetate.
You get acetone und sodiumcarbonate .
Write die equation vor it.
In this case hexafluoracetone.