4-Chlorophenol → 2-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-4-methyl-1-nitrobenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 4-chlorophenol (1 g, 7.78 mmol), 2,5-difluoronitrobenzene (829 mg, 5.21 mmol) and potassium carbonate (1.29 g, 9.34 mmol) in DMF (5 ml) was stirred at reflux for 6 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool and then re-dissolved in 2.5M NaOH (10 ml). This aqueous mixture was then extracted with ethyl acetate (3×15 ml) and the combined organics were dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. An ethyl acetate solution of the crude material was filtered through a pad of silica which upon evaporation in vacuo afforded 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-4-methyl-1-nitrobenzene as a yellow oil (1.04 g). This oil was then dissolved in 10:1 EtOH:H2O (10 ml) and added to a refluxing solution of iron powder (1.45 g, 26.05 mmol) and ammonium chloride (195 mg, 2.74 mmol) in 10:1 EtOH:H2O (20 ml). Stirring at this temperature continued for a further 2 h, before the reaction mixture was allowed to cool. The mixture was then filtered through a pad of celite, which was further washed with ethyl acetate (250 ml). Concentration in vacuo followed by purification by flash chromatography (eluant: 8:2 to 1:1 hexane:ethyl acetate) afforded the title compound as a pale yellow solid (1.28 g, 95%).

Provenance & Evidence