Ethyl 2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)oxazole-5-carboxylate → Ethyl 2-Phenoxy-4-Trifluoromethyl-5-Oxazolecarboxylate

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Reaction Steps

The compound of Example 5, ethyl 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-5-oxazolecarboxylate (4.87 g; 0.02 mol) was added to a mixture of sodium phenol in 100 ml DMF. The reaction was allowed to progress at ambient temperature for 1 hour. Gas chromatographic analysis, at this point, indicated the completion of the reaction. The dark brown liquid was then slurried in ether and washed 5 times with NaOH (5%) and H2O. The resulting brown liquid was dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo to yield 5.2 g of a brown semi-solid. Bulb to bulb distillation at 75° C./25 mm gave 1.7 g of a colorless oil. Further distillation at 130° C./0.25 mm gave 2.8 g of a white solid. Recrystallization from methylcyclohexane gave 1.08 g of pure white solid, ethyl 2-phenoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-5-oxazolecarboxylate, mp 75°-77° C., yield 18%.

Provenance & Evidence