[5] The product has a lower boiling point that the starting material and may be conveniently isolated by distillation.

[10] Reaction of 2-fluoroethanol with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride in the presence of base gives the triflate ester.

[13] 2-Fluoroethanol is converted by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) as cofactor,[13] ultimately leading to the formation of fluoroacetaldehyde and then fluoroacetate.

[13] Fluoroacetate is a precursor to fluorocitrate,[14] an inhibitor of aconitase, an enzyme that participates in the TCA cycle.

Some more severe reactions of the human body to 2-fluoroethanol can be respiratory failure and epileptiform convulsions or seizures, leading to dysfunctions in the heart mechanism.