Methyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetate → 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-[2-methyl-(4-pyridyl)]ethanone

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a freshly prepared solution of NaOMe (3.0 M in MeOH) was added a solution of methyl 2-methyl-isonicotinate (6.81 g, 45.1 mmol) in MeOH (10 mL). This was followed by the dropwise addition of a solution of methyl 4-fluorophenylacetate (8.34 g, 49.6 mmol) in MeOH (10 mL). The MeOH was distilled off while heating the reaction mixture at 95° C. After 17.5 h, the solid residue was cooled. Concentrated HCl (15 mL) was added, and the mixture was heated at reflux. After 4 h, the mixture was cooled then diluted with H2O. The aqueous mixture was washed with Et2O, adjusted to pH 5 with 1N NaOH, then adjusted to pH 8 with saturated NaHCO3. The alkaline aqueous was extracted with EtOAc. The EtOAc extracts were washed with saturated NaCl, then dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation of solvent in vacuo afforded a red oil which was purified by column chromatography, eluting with a gradient of 0-3% MeOH/CHCl3. The title compound was isolated as a red oil (1.5 g, 15%).

Provenance & Evidence