Methyl 2-(bromomethyl)-3-phenylacrylate → (E)-2-Formyloxymethyl-3-phenylacrylic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of triethylammonium formate (1.87 g) in acetonitrile (4 ml) was added (Z)-2-bromomethyl-3-phenylacrylic acid methyl ester (1.30 g) and the mixture heated at reflux for 2 hours. The reaction was cooled and extracted into diethyl ether (3×10 ml). The combined organics were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford the title compound as a crude oil.

Provenance & Evidence