[gingi85]

How would you explain the mechanism of the following reaction under basic conditions:

succinate + pentafluorophenol trifluoroacetate ------> pentafluorophenol ester of the succinate and trifluoroacetic acid

there is also an alcohol present in the reaction flask (precursor of the succinate), but it does not react with the pentafluorophelol ester.

How to explain this?

[orgopete]

I am surprised with this result. Could you post the actual journal procedure that was used? This must be an addition-elimination to the pentafluorobenzene. If alcohol is present, I would have thought the alcohol would add to the trifluoroacetate carbonyl group and eliminate the pentafluorophenol.