Ethyl 2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-2-oxoacetate → Ethyl 3,3',4,4'-tetrafluorobenzilate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

The Grignard reagent is prepared from 2.24 g (0.092 mol) of magnesium chips, a few granules of iodine, and 17.80 g (0.092 mol) of 1-bromo-3,4-difluorobenzene in 100 mL of THF at 50° C. After the halide has all been added, the mixture is stirred for another hour. The Grignard reagent thus obtained is added dropwise to 18.81 g (0.088 mol) of ethyl 3,4-difluorophenylglyoxylate in 80 mL of THF at 10° C.-15° C. and the mixture obtained is stirred for 2 hours at 5° C. The white suspension is poured onto ice/sulfuric acid for working up, extracted with ethyl acetate, the organic phase is washed with water, dried over MgSO4, and evaporated to dryness. The crude product is purified by column chromatography (eluent: toluene). Yield: 10.80 g of oil 4.1. (38% of theory).

Provenance & Evidence