Methyl 4-Formylbenzoate → Methyl 4-(2-methoxyethenyl)benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To an ambient temperature suspension of potassium tert-butoxide (2.05 g, 18.27 mmol) in THF (60 mL) is added the (methoxymethyl)triphenyl phosphonium chloride (6.26 g, 18.27 mmol). The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 20 min. Solid methyl 4-formylbenzoate (1.0 g, 6.09 mmol) is added and the reaction is stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture is quenched with saturated aq. NH4Cl and concentrated. The residue is partitioned between Et2O and water. The aqueous layer is extracted with Et2O and the combined organic layers are washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered, concentrated, and chromatographed (0% to 30% EtOAC/Hex) to yield the title compound (939 mg, 80%) as a mix of E/Z isomers.

Provenance & Evidence