Phenol → 2,2,2-Trifluoro-1-[5-fluoro-2-(2-propen-1-yloxy)phenyl]ethanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

Synthesis of the requisite 4-fluoro-2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)oxetan-2-yl]phenol may be carried out from 4-fluoro-2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxyethyl)phenol (see J. Zhang et al., Synth. Commun. 2011, 41, 3045-3052). Selective alkylation of the phenol, using allyl bromide and a base such as potassium carbonate, followed by a Swern oxidation of the benzylic alcohol, provides 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[5-fluoro-2-(prop-2-en-1-yloxy)phenyl]ethanone. This material was reacted with trimethylsulfoxonium iodide and potassium tert-butoxide to afford 2-[5-fluoro-2-(prop-2-en-1-yloxy)phenyl]-2-(trifluoromethyl)oxetane; the allyl group was removed using tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and morpholine.

Provenance & Evidence