Chloromethyl Methyl Ether → 3-Chloro-4-[2-(methoxy-methoxy)ethyl]aniline

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of 2-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-ethanol (2.9 g) in dichloromethane (20 ml) were added N,N-diisopropyl-ethylamine (3.0 ml) and chloromethyl methyl ether (1.2 ml) under ice-cooling, and the mixture was stirred for 18 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was poured into ice-water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in methanol (20 ml), 3% platinum sulfide on activated carbon (wet) (842 mg) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 10 hours under a hydrogen atmosphere. After the catalyst was removed by filtration, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to give 3-chloro-4-[2-(methoxy-methoxy)ethyl]aniline (2.0 g).

Provenance & Evidence