Formic Acid → Methyl 4-[2-carboxy-4-(4-cyanophenyl)butyl]benzoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 41.8 ml (0.3 mol) of triethylamine and 8.6 ml (0.23 mol) of formic acid in 500 ml of dioxane is added to a solution of 43.5 g (0.09 mol) of diallyl 2-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethyl]-2-(4-methoxycarbonylbenzyl)malonate from Example 13A, 1.67 g (0.01 mol) of triphenylphosphine and 410 mg of palladium acetate in 505 ml of dioxane at room temperature. The reaction mixture is then stirred at 100° C. for 2 hours. After conversion is complete, the reaction solution is cooled and the solvent is removed in vacuo. The resulting residue is purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (mobile phase: dichloromethane/methanol 50:1). 25 g (0.074 mol, 82% yield) of a colorless solid are obtained.

Provenance & Evidence