Toluene → Methyl 2-methyl-2-mesyloxymethyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-keto-propanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Into a 5 liter RBF is placed 100 g (4.37 mole) of methyl 2-methyl-2-hydroxymethyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-keto-propanoate, 473 g (4.25 mole) of triethylamine, and 2 liters of toluene. This mixture is cooled to -10° C. and methane sulfonyl chloride, 488 g (4.25 mole), is added over 30 minutes. The internal temperature rose to 40° C. by the end of the addition. After stirring at room temperature for 2 hours, the mixture is worked up with 4 liters of cold water and 1 liter methylene chloride. The resulting red semisolid (1400 g) is crystalized using 200 ml of hot ethyl acetate and adding 1500 ml of hexane. Yielding 1060 g (74%) of a light yellow solid mp 85°-86° C., methyl 2-methyl-2-mesyloxymethyl-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-keto-propanoate. NMR data was consistent with the structure.

Provenance & Evidence