Water → (2R)-2-(Phenoxymethyl)oxirane

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of phenol (336 mg) in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (16 mL) was added sodium hydride (60% in mineral oil, 190 mg). The mixture was stirred for 1 h and (2S)-(+)-glycidyl 3-nitrobenzene sulfonate (1.0 g) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL) was added. The mixture was heated to 60° C. and stirred for 30 min. The reaction was allowed to cool to room temperature, water (100 mL) was added and the mixture was extracted with 2:1 hexane:ethyl acetate (2 times 40 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to supply the crude product. Purification by silica gel chromatography (eluting with 10:1 hexane: ethyl acetate) afforded the title compound (474 mg) as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence