Sodium methanethiolate → Methyl 5-methylthio-2-nitrophenylacetate

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Reaction Steps

A solution of methyl 5-fluoro-2-nitrophenylacetate (3 g, 14 mmol), (Synthesis 1993, 51), in DMSO (10 ml) was added to a suspension of sodium thiomethoxide (1.08 g, 15.5 mmol) in anhydrous DMSO (10 ml). The mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at ambient temperature and further sodium thiomethoxide (100 mg, 1.5 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes at ambient temperature and was then partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4) and the solvent removed by evaporation. The residue was purified by column chromatography eluting with ethyl acetate/petroleum ether (15/85) to give methyl 5-methylthio-2-nitrophenylacetate (2.68 g, 81%).

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