N-bromobutanimide → Methyl 2-(4-(bromomethyl)phenyl)-2-methylpropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of methyl 2-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylpropionate (58.5 g), N-bromosuccinimide (54.2 g), benzoyl peroxide (1.2 g) and carbon tetrachloride (300 ml) was refluxed for 40 min. After being cooled, the reaction mixture was filtrated. The filtrate was washed with an aqueous sodium sulfite solution and saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated to give methyl 2-(4-bromomethylphenyl)-2-methylpropionate (80.0 g) as a pale-brown oil. To a solution of this oil in dimethylformamide (500 ml) was added sodium azide (21.14 g) and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 40 min. The reaction mixture was poured into water (1000 ml) and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with saturated brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the obtained residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (developing solvent; hexane,hexane:ethyl acetate=20:1) to give the title compound (48.1 g) as a pale-yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence