Ammonia → 2-Methoxy-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenol

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution containing 160 ml of 1.6 molar butyllithium in hexane, 300 ml oftetrahydrofuran and 40 ml of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine was cooled to -78° C. and 43.3 g of 3-trifluoromethylanisole was added with stirring under nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was allowed to warm up to room temperature and cooled then again to -78° C. after which35 ml of trimethyl borate was added. The solution was warmed up to 20° C. and 50 ml of conc. ammonia solution was added. The solvents were evaporated in reduced pressure and to the residue 60 ml of 98-100% formic acid followed with 25 ml of 35% hydrogen peroxide were added. The solution was extracted with ether-petroleum ether (1:1). The organic phasewas separated and the product was extracted with 2.5 N NaOH-solution. The aqueous phase was acidified with hydrochloric acid and the product was extracted in dichloromethane. The solvent was removed for the most part invacuo after which petroleum ether was added. The crystalline product was filtered, yield 8.5 g (18%), m.p. 51°-53° C.

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