Diethyl methylmalonate → 3-(2,5-Dibromophenyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid

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Reaction Steps

In a 1000 ml three-necked round-bottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser, dropping funnel with pressure-equalizing, and magnetic stirring bar, 6.10 g (0.27 mol) of sodium metal was dissolved in 150 ml of dry ethanol. To the resulting solution, 45.5 g (0.26 mol) of diethylmethylmalonate in 50 ml of dry ethanol was added dropwise within 10 minutes. This mixture was stirred for 15 minutes; then 84.3 g (0.26 mol) of 3,6-dibromobenzylbromide was added, while vigorously stirring, at a rate that allowed the reaction mixture to maintain a gentle reflux. Additionally, this mixture was refluxed for 4 hours, and then cooled to room temperature. A solution of 52.1 g of KOH in 140 ml of water was added. This mixture was refluxed for 3 hours to saponificate the ester formed. Ethanol and water were distilled off. To the residue, 200 ml of water, and then, 12 M HCl (to pH 1) were added. The substituted methylmalonic acid precipitated and was separated, washed with 3×100 ml of cold water, and dried overnight on watch glass. Crude 3-(2,5-dibromophenyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid was obtained after decarboxylation of this substituted methylmalonic acid by heating it in a round bottom flask for 2 hours at 160° C. Crude 3-(2,5-dibromophenyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid was used without further purification. A mixture of this acid, 70 ml of SOCl2, and 100 ml of CH2Cl2 was stirred for 3 hours at reflux. Thionyl chloride and CH2Cl2 were distilled off. The residue was dried in vacuum, and then dissolved in 95 ml of CH2Cl2. To a suspension of 47.0 g (0.35 mol) of AlCl3 in 470 ml of CH2Cl2, the above-obtained solution of 3-(2,5-dibromophenyl)-2-methylpropionyl chloride was added dropwise, while vigorously stirring, for 1 hour at −20° C. This mixture was refluxed for 3 hours, cooled to ambient temperature, and then poured on 500 cm3 of ice. The organic layer was separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with 3×200 ml of methyl-tert-butyl ether. The combined organic fractions were dried over K2CO3 and evaporated to dryness. The crude 4,7-dibromo-2-methyl-1-indanone was purified by flash chromatography on Silica Gel 60 (40-63 μm, d 50 mm, h 250 mm; eluent: hexanes/methyl-tert-butyl ether (1:1, vol.)). Yield 54.1 g (70%).

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