Methane → 1-Benzofuran-6-carboxylic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Methyl 3-hydroxy-4-[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]benzoate (3.0 g, 12.1 mmol) is dissolved in 1:1 EtOH/Et3N (30 mL), is treated with CuI (114 mg, 0.6 mmol), and the reaction is warmed to 75° C. for 3 h. The mixture is treated with DARCO and MeOH (15 mL) and heated to reflux for 1 h. The reaction is filtered through a fine fritted-glass funnel, the filtrate is treated with 3N NaOH (24.2 ml, 72.5 mmol), and the mixture is stirred overnight at RT. The mixture is concentrated to dryness, the residue is dissolved in H2O (20 mL), and the pH of the mixture is adjusted to 2 with 12N HCl. The resulting yellow precipitate is collected, washed with water, and is dried to give 1.83 g (93%) of benzofuran-6-carboxylic acid as a tan solid. HRMS (FAB) calcd for C9H6O3+H: 163.0395, found 163.0389 (M+H)+.

Provenance & Evidence