Phosphorus pentachloride → Methyl 1-chloro-6-methoxy-2-naphthaleneacetate

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Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 25 g. of 6-methoxy-2-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)-1-tetralone and 150 ml. of benzene, 21 g. of phosphorus pentachloride are slowly added. After the addition, the chlorination mixture is allowed to stand for an additional five hours; then it is added to 500 g. of ice and extracted with xylene. The extracts, containing methyl 1-chloro-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydro2-naphthylacetate, are combined, washed with water to neutrality and dried over sodium sulfate; then 23 g. of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone are added and the resulting mixture is refluxed for five hours. The dehydrogenation mixture is cooled, filtered, and evaporated. The residue is taken up in acetone and chromatographed on alumina and evaporated to yield methyl 1-chloro-6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetate.

Provenance & Evidence