Phosphoric Acid → 1-(Methanesulfonyl)-4-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy]benzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 1-fluoro-4-(methylsulfonyl)benzene (2.2 kg), KOH (906.3 g), 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenol (2.364 kg) and DMSO (4.4 L) was heated to 90° C. and stirred until HPLC showed <0.5% starting material remained (about 10 hours). HPLC conditions: Zorbax SB-C8 4.6 mm×25 cm; mobile phase was a gradient of 70% water with 0.1% H3PO4/30% acetonitrile to 10% water with 0.1% H3PO4/90% acetonitrile over 15 minutes at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, followed by a five minute hold at 10/90; UV detection at 220 nM. Retention times: starting sulfone, 4.5 min; desired product, 7.8 min.

Provenance & Evidence