A method for synthesizing halogenated organic compounds, such as halogenated alkenyl group-containing and halogenated alkyl group-containing compounds having a heteroatom (e.g., O,N.S) coupled to a carbon atom of a halogenated alkenyl or halogenated alkyl group, involves reacting a halogenated olefin such as a chloro-substituted trifluoropropenyl compound with an active hydrogen-containing organic compound such as an alcohol (e.g., an aliphatic monoalcohol, aliphatic polyalcohol, or a phenolic compound), a primary amine, a secondary amine or a thiol.