Boron tribromide → 2-Phenoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A −78° C. solution of the crude 2-phenoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-anisole (3.47 g, 12.9 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (35 mL) is treated with BBr3 (12.99 g, 51.8 mmol), and the mixture is warmed to 0° C. and stirred for 1.5 h under N2. The reaction is poured into ice water and then extracted with Et2O. The organic layer is dried (Na2SO4), and the solvent is removed in vacuo to afford crude material that is absorbed on silica gel and columned with 96/4 chloroform/methyl tert-butyl ether to afford 1.51 g (24%) of 2-phenoxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenol. Rf=0.34 (96/4 chloroform/methyl tert-butyl ether). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3); MS (ES−+) m/z mass calculated for C13H9O2F3 254, found 253 (M+1, 100%).

Provenance & Evidence