Hydroquinone → 4-Methoxyphenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Hydroquinone can be added to a solution of sodium hydride (NaH) dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and combined with methyl bromide yielding para-methoxyphenol. The para-methoxyphenol can be extracted and added to a solution of tosyl chloride (TsCl) dissolved in pyridine and tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature, yielding para-methoxytosyloxybenzene. The para-methoxytosyloxybenzene can be extracted and added to a solution of diatomic iodine (I2) and potassium iodide trioxide (KIO3) dissolved in sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and acetic acid (CH3COOH) yielding 4-methoxy-3-iodo-1-tosyloxybenzene. The 4-methoxy-3-iodo-1-tosyloxybenzene can be extracted and added to a solution of aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and tert-butanol, removing the tosylate protecting group and yielding 4-methoxy-3-iodophenol. The 4-methoxy-3-iodophenol can be extracted and exposed to resin-bound triphenyphosphine (PPh3) in a solution of azopyridine and ethanol (CH3CH2OH) in a salt bath at 0° C., yielding 4-ethoxy-2-iodomethoxybenzene. The 4-ethoxy-2-iodomethoxybenzene can be extracted and added to a solution of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) and 1,1-dichlorodimethylether (CHCl2OCH3) dissolved in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) in a salt bath at −10° C., yielding 2-ethoxy-4-iodo-5-methoxybenzaldehyde. The 2-ethoxy-4-iodo-5-methoxybenzaldehyde can be added to lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) and methanesulfonyl chloride (CH3SO2Cl) dissolved in pyridine, and then sodium iodide (NaI) and triethyl phosphite (P(OCH2CH3)3) can be added to the reaction mixture, yielding diethyl 2-ethoxy-4-iodo-5-methoxybenzylphosphonate.

Provenance & Evidence