Formaldehyde → 3-Phenoxyprop-2-enal

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Reaction Steps

2-Formylvinyl phenyl ether is prepared by treating phenoxyacetaldehyde with formaldehyde and diethylamine hydrochloride salt. The ether is then reacting with a solution of diethylphosphonoacetic acid and n-butyllithium in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) to form 5-phenoxy-2,4-pentadienoic acid. 5-Phenyl-2,4-pentadienal is obtained by first converting the carboxylic acid to a Weinreb amide using oxalyl chloride followed by N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine. Subsequently, reduction of the Weinreb amide with lithium aluminum hydride (LAH) in THF leads to the formation of 5-phenoxy-2,4-pentadienal. The synthesis is summarized in Scheme II.

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