4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde → 4-[2-(2-Fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethoxy]benzaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirring solution of 2-(2-fluorophenyl)oxirane (5.30 g, 38.4 mmol) in toluene (65 mL) was added 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7.0 g, 58.0 mmol), 1M NaOH (65 mL) and PEG4000 (polyethylene glycol, 0.85 g) and the stirring mixture was heated at 78° C. overnight. The reaction was allowed to cool to RT and then extracted with EtOAc (2×150 mL). The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The resulting light brown oil was adsorbed onto silica gel and chromatographed, eluting with 30-40% EtOAc/hexanes to give 2 major spots. Fractions containing the higher Rf spot were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give 1.10 g (11%) of the title compound as a colorless oil. Fractions containing the lower Rf spot were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give 0.67 g (7%) of the regioisomer as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence