Ethyl bromoacetate → Ethyl [2-ethyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2-ethyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenol (3.67 g, 24.1 mmol) in anhydrous acetonitrile (125 mL) was added caesium carbonate (8.65 g, 26.6 mmol), the reaction mixture was then flushed with nitrogen and cooled to 0° C. before addition of ethyl bromoacetate (2.68 mL, 24.1 mmol). The reaction mixture was allowed to gradually attain room temperature and stirred for 18 h. Further ethylbromoacetate (0.26 mL, 2.4 mmol) was added and stirring continued for 4 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (100 mL) and then extracted EtOAc (2×100 mL). The combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO4) filtered and evaporated. Purification by Biotage™ chromatography (Silica, 90 g) eluting 4:1 cyclohexane:EtOAc, then EtOAc afforded the title compound as a pale yellow gum (3.54 g).

Provenance & Evidence