PRODUCTION OF HEXAFLUOROACETONE AND ITS OXIME

A method of making hexafluoroacetone from hexafluoroacetone oxime comprising heating hexafluoroacetone oxime (or solvent complex thereof) with a concentrated mineral acid to yield hexafluoroacetone. Also a method of making hexafluoroacetone oxime from hexafluoroisobutyroyl carbanion alkylammonium salts. The oxime can be prepared by reacting the salts in solvent with an alkali or alkaline earth metal nitrite and subsequently decarboxylating and hydrolyzing the reaction product, or alternatively, reacting the salts in a solvent with dinitrogen tri- or tetra-oxide and subsequently decarboxylating and hydrolyzing the reaction product.