tert-Butanol → 2-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-3-oxopentanoic Acid Methyl Ester

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Reaction Steps

A suspension of potassium tert-butoxide (8.4 g) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (180 mL) at 0° C. was treated with a mixture of tert-butanol (0.4 mL) and 3-oxopentanoic acid methyl ester (9.8 g). After stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes a solution of 2,4-dichloro-1-chloromethylbenzene (14.7 g) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was added and the resulting mixture warmed to room temperature and then stirred at this temperature for 6 days. The mixture was diluted with water (200 mL), extracted with ethyl acetate and the combined extracts washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and then dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue purified by column chromatography on silica gel, eluting with a mixture of pentane and dichloromethane (1:0 to 1:1 by volume) to afford title compound as a white solid, 7.0 g.

Provenance & Evidence