Methanol → 2-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-2-methoxyacetic acid

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Reaction Steps

The title compound was prepared according to the general procedure in Reeve, et al, J.A.C.S., 83:2755 (1961). A solution of 3,5-difluorobenzaldehyde (Aldrich) and bromoform (1.2 eq.) In methanol was cooled to −5° C. and treated dropwise with methanolic KOH. The reaction temperature was held below 6 C. during the addition. The mixture was slowly warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. The suspension was diluted with water and 50% saturated aqueous brine. The mixture was extracted with ether, and the aqueous layer was acidified to a pH around 3.5 and extracted with ether. The latter organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The crude acid was purified via flash chromatography eluting with 1:4:95 acetic acid/methanol/methylene chloride to give a white solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz. CDCl3) δ 11.36 (1H, bs), 7.05 (1H, m), 6.81 (2H, tt, J=2.4, 8.8 Hz), 4.77 (1H, s), 3.47 (3H, s)/C9H8F2O3 (MW=202.17); mass spectroscopy—202.

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