1-(3,4-Difluorophenyl)ethan-1-one → 2-(3,4-Difluorophenyl)propan-2-ol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of ethylmagnesium bromide in ether (38.0 mL, 38.0 mmol) at 0° C., was added a solution of 3′,4′-difluoroacetophenone (5.0 g, 32.0 mmol) in diethyl ether (35 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h when TLC analysis indicated that the reaction was complete (Rf=0.3, 3:1 hexane/EtOAc). The reaction was quenched carefully by adding 38 mL of water. It was extracted with diethyl ether (2×30 mL), washed with Rochelle's salt followed by brine and the organic layer was dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was removed in vacuo after filtration and 2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)propan-2-ol was obtained as a colorless oil (crude wt.=5.4 g, 97%) which looked >90% pure by NMR. It was used in the next step without purification.

Provenance & Evidence