The general procedure for the synthesis of potassium 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroacetate from ethyl difluorobromoacetate was as follows: to a methanol (500 mL) solution of potassium hydroxide (56 g, 1 mol) was slowly added ethyl difluorobromoacetate (203 g, 1 mol) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred continuously at the same temperature until the ethyl bromodifluoroacetate was completely consumed. Upon completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by concentration under reduced pressure to give potassium 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroacetate solid (202 g, 95% yield).
