PROCESS FOR PREPARING FLUORINATED DIOLS

There is described a process for preparing a fluorinated diol compound by reacting the corresponding ketone-alcohol or aldehyde-alcohol with hydrogen over a palladium catalyst in the vapor phase. In a first embodiment to a process for preparing a fluorinated diol compound of the formula: (see above formula) in which R1 represents hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted cycloalkyl; and R2 represents hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted cycloalkyl; said process comprising reacting a fluorinated precursor compound of the formula: (see above formula) in which R1 and R2 have the meaning given above, with hydrogen over a palladium catalyst in the vapor phase.