Hydrochloric Acid → Tert-butyl 2-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)propanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of diisopropylamine in 2 ml of THF at −78° C. was added n-butyl lithium (0.61 ml). The reaction was stirred for 30 minutes after which time a solution of tert-butyl 2-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)acetate (0.300 g) in THF (2 ml) was added dropwise over 20 minutes at −78° C. The reaction was warmed to 0° C. and then transferred a flask containing 2 ml THF and MeI (0.080 ml). The reaction was acidified with 2M HCl and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organics were then washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The concentrated product was purified by silica gel chromatography using a solvent system of 5% to 50% ethyl acetate/hexanes to provide tert-butyl 2-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenyl)propanoate (0.140 g).

Provenance & Evidence