Nitromethane → 6,7-Dimethoxy-1-(2-chloroethyl)isochroman

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl alcohol (110 g, 1.233 mole) and chloropropionaldehyde diethyl acetal (40 ml) in 240 ml of nitromethane, 8 ml of BF3 etherate is added. The mixture is stirred for 2 hours at room temperature under N2. This, after work up from water and extracting with methylene chloride gives a yellow oil. This, after column chromatography (silica gel), gives 45 g (oil) of 6,7-dimethoxy-1-(2-chloroethyl)isochroman which is crystallized from ether/pet. ether to give 41 g (70%) of 6,7-dimethoxy-1-(2-chloroethyl)isochroman as a white crystalline material, m.p. 56°-57.5°.

Provenance & Evidence