The trifluoromethylgroup of certain compoundscontaining one or two trifluoromethylgroups can be converted to the carbomethoxy group by treatment with sodium methoxide followed by aqueous acidic work-up. α-Trifluoromethyl esters can be obtained by selective methanolysis of the 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl group in some cases. The structural requirements for the transformation are delineated, and