Ethanol → 2-Chloro-5-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl-3-hydroxypropanenitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 25 mL flask with a stir bar was charged with 3.0 g (13.8 mmol) of 2-(2-chloro-5-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl)ethanenitrile, 12 mL of ethanol and 1.34 mL of 37% formaldehyde solution. The mixture was stirred and a mixture of 115 μL of 40% Triton B in methanol and 38 μL of DBU was added. After a very mild exotherm, all solids dissolved. After 50 minutes at ambient temperature, the reaction was quenched by the addition of 0.5 mL of 3 N HCL. The mixture was filtered to remove floc, diluted with 2 volumes of water and extracted with butyl chloride. The extracts were water washed and stripped to an oil. This was chromatographed on 35 g of silica gel eluting with 5%→60% EtOAc in hexane to recover 2.2 g (65% yield.) of the desired product, Rf 0.18 (silica gel, EtOAc:hexane=1:4).

Provenance & Evidence