Chloromethyl Methyl Ether → (4-Methoxymethylsulfanyl-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of (4-mercapto-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (500 mg, 2.7 mmol) and chloromethyl methyl ether (331 mg, 4.1 mmol) in acetonitrile (3 mL) and pyridine (1 mL) was heated under reflux for 16 h. At this time, the reaction was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was re-dissolved in ethyl acetate (10 mL) and was washed with a 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (2×25 mL) and a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (Merck Silica gel 60, 230–400 mesh, 90/10 hexanes/ethyl acetate) afforded (4-methoxymethylsulfanyl-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (482 mg, 77.6%) as a clear oil: EI-HRMS m/e calcd for C11H14O3S (M+) 226.0664, found 226.0664.

Provenance & Evidence