Vapor phase esterification of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, 4,4,4-trifluorobutanol, and ethanol with poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) copolymer surfaces has been followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The rate of reaction and yield are found to be strongly dependent upon the nucleophilicity of the chosen alcohol.