2-Chlorobenzoxazole → 4-(Benzoxazol-2-yl)benzyl alcohol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To 500 ml THF cooled to -78° C. is added butyl lithium (2 eq.) followed by 4-bromobenzyl alcohol (27.2 g; 145 mmol) slowly over 45 minutes in a solution of THF (100 ml) keeping the temperature below -72° C. After 10 minutes following the final addition of the alcohol is added 2-chlorobenzoxazole (23.3 g; 145 mmol) in 25 ml THF slowly over 45 minutes. The temperature is maintained at -78° C. for 1 hour and then warmed to -40° C. for 15 minutes. The reaction is then quenched with 15 ml of acetic acid and allowed to warm to room temperature, diluted with 800 ml ether, washed 3x with H2O and brine, dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo to obtain a brown oily solid which is washed with 400 ml petroleum ether and filtered to obtain 4-(benzoxazol-2-yl)benzyl alcohol as a tan solid which is used directly in Step B.

Provenance & Evidence