Acetone → Ethyl alpha-(4-carbomethoxy-2-n-propylphenoxy)-3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetate

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Reaction Steps

To a nitrogen flushed 5 L three neck round bottom flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer, condenser, and a nitrogen inlet was charged 326 g (1.68 mol) of methyl 4-hydoxy-3-n-propylbenzoate, 507.6 g (1.73 mol) of ethyl α-bromo-3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetate from above, 235 g (1.70 mol) of anhydrous potassium carbonate, and 1.7 L of acetone. The mixture was refluxed with vigorous stirring for 9 hr. The suspension was allowed to cool to ambient temperature and stirred overnight. The mixture diluted with 2 L of ether, cooled to 0° C. and filtered through Super-CelR. The cake washed with ether and the combined filtrate concentrated. The residue was redissolved in ether and the organic layer washed with once with 1N HCl, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 10% sodium bisulfite solution, brine, dried with magnesium sulfate, treated with charcoal and filtered through a plug of silica. The pale yellow solution was concentrated to 697.3 g (theoretical 678 g) of a thick yellow oil which was used without purification in the next step. NMR was consistent with the title compound.

Provenance & Evidence