Dimethylformamide → Piperidine

Participants

Reaction Steps

Bromine dissolved in chloroform is added at 0° to a solution of 4-(2-methoxyethoxy)phenol (M.P. 98°-99°) [prepared by reacting 4-benzyloxyphenol with 2-chloroethyl methyl ether and debenzylating the resultant 1-benzyloxy-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)benzene (M.P. 41°-43°) by hydrogenation with palladium on charcoal] in methanol and the mixture stirred for 2 hours. After chromatography over silicagel, the resultant 2-bromo-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)phenol (oil) is reacted for 60 hours with a mixture of potassium carbonate, acetone and benzyl bromide. After chromatography over silicagel, the resultant 1-benzyloxy-2-bromo-4-(2-methoxyethoxy)benzene (oil) is reacted in dimethylformamide for 5 hours with cuprous cyanide. After purification by partition between aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and ethyl acetate, the resultant 2-benzyloxy-5-(2-methoxyethoxy)benzonitrile (M.P. 50°-51° ) is debenzylated over 10% palladium on charcoal in methanol. The resultant 2-hydroxy-5-(2-methoxyethoxy)benzonitrile (oil) is reacted at 100° with epichlorhydrin and a catalytic amount of piperidine, and 2-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-5-(2-methoxyethoxy)benzonitrile (oil) is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence