Water → (E)-methyl 2-(2-formylphenyl)-3-methoxypropenoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of (E)-methyl 2-[2-(bromomethyl)phenyl]-3-methoxypropenoate (10.0 g, 90% pure), sodium hydrogen orthophosphate dibasic (Na2HPO4, 5.74 g) and potassium hydrogen monophosphate monobasic (KH2PO4.0.55 g) in DMSO (20 ml) was heated at 80° C. for 1 hour and then at 110° C. for a further hour (compare J H Babler, M J Coghlan, M Feng and P Fries, J.Org.Chem., 1979, 44, 1716). After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with ether. The extracts were washed with brine, dried, concentrated and chromatographed using ether as eluant to give (E)-methyl 2-(2-formylphenyl)-3-methoxypropenoate (2.77 g, 40% yield) as a white crystalline solid, m.p. 67°-69° C.

Provenance & Evidence