Benzenepropanoyl chloride → HCID 12112436, compound

To a solution of 2-amino-4-fluorobenzyl alcohol from Step 1 (2.00 g, 14.17 mmol) and methylene chloride (45 mL), was added N,N,-diisopropylethylamine (3.70 g, 28.34 mmol) followed by hydrocinnamoyl chloride (4.78 g, 28.34 mmol) dropwise over 15 min under an argon atmosphere at 23° C. After 16 h, the reaction was diluted with methylene chloride (100 mL), washed with KHSO4 (1 N, 1×80 mL), sat'd NaHCO3 (1×80 mL), brine (1×80 mL) and dried (MgSO4). After concentration in vacuo, the crude residue was dissolved in methanol (14 mL) and NaOH (1.5 N, 14 mL) was added at 23° C. under argon. After 2 h at 23° C., the reaction was concentrated in vacuo, diluted with ether (150 mL), washed with brine (100 mL), and dried (MgSO4). After concentration in vacuo, the residue was purified by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate:hexane 1:3) to afford N-[5-fluoro-2-hydroxymethylphenyl]benzenepropanamide (3.40 g, 87.8%) as an oil: 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ2.65 (t, J=7 Hz), 3.05 (t, J=7 Hz), 4.48 (s), 6.68-6.74 (m), 7.00-7.34 (m), 7.83-7.91 (m) 8.72 (br s). MS (EI) 273, 255, 212. IR (neat) 3500-3150, 1667 cm−1. Anal. Calc'd. for C16H16NO2F: C, 70.31; H, 5.90; N, 5.13. Found: C, 70.26; H, 6.11; N, 5.03.