Bromobenzene → 2,4-Difluoro-1,1'-biphenyl

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

2,4-Difluorophenylboronic acid (15 g, 129 mmol) was added to a solution of bromobenzene (19.8 g, 126 mmol) in DME (500 mL). To this was added a solution of sodium carbonate (55.8 g, 520 mmol) in water (260 mL). The solution was degassed by bubbling argon through the mixture and then stirred under argon. Pd(dppf)Cl2 (1.5 g, 2.1 mmol) was added and the flask was flushed with argon and heated at 90° C. overnight. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and water (150 mL) and ethyl acetate (500 mL) were added. The layers were separated and the organic layer washed with 2 M NaOH (100 mL), water (100 mL) and brine (100 mL). The black ethyl acetate layer was dried over MgSO4, charcoal was added, and the mixture was filtered through a short pad of silica. Evaporation of the solvents gave 2,4-difluorobiphenyl as a brown oil, which crystallised on standing (21.2 g).

Provenance & Evidence