4-Methoxyphenol → Ethyl 2-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-6-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]benzoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Sodium 4-methoxyphenoxide was prepared as described in part A using 4-methoxyphenol (156 mg, 1.25 mmol) and was dried in vacuo. A solution of ethyl 2-fluoro-6-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]benzoate (304 mg, 1.0 mmol) in DMSO was added to the sodium 4-methoxyphenoxide at 25° C. and the mixture was stirred until all the solid had dissolved (approximately 20 min.). Stirring was continued at 25° C. for an additional 24 hr. The reaction mixture was then warmed to 60° C. and stirred for 2 hr., then stirred for 4 hr. at 80° C. At this time all of the ethyl 2-fluoro-6-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]benzoate had been consumed, as judged by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The reaction was cooled to 25° C., diluted with water (10 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (3×10 ml). The organic extract was washed with water (2×7 ml) and brine (7 ml), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated to give a light yellow oil. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography (SiO2, 50% CH2Cl2/hexane—CH2Cl2) giving 195 mg of ethyl 2-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-6-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenoxy]benzoate. (47% yield, m.p. 84.5-85° C.).

Provenance & Evidence