Dimethyl malonate → 1,3-Dimethyl 2-(4-bromo-2-nitrophenyl)propanedioate

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Reaction Steps

Dimethyl malonate (40.34 g, 0.305 mol) in N,N′-dimethylformamide (45 mL) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 16.2 g, 405 mmol) in N,N′-dimethylformamide (500 mL) at 10° C. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature then 4-bromo-1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene (44.38 g, 202 mmol) in N,N′-dimethylformamide (45 mL) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred 75 minutes at room temperature and then was warmed to 65° C. After 1 hour, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was taken up in a mixture of ethyl acetate and water and 2M aqueous hydrochloric acid was added until the mixture became pale yellow in colour. The organic layer was separated, washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO4) and evaporated. The crude product was recrystallized from diisopropyl ether to give the title compound (55.0 g, 83%) as a pale yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence