4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde → 4-[2-(3-Fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethoxy]benzaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirring solution of 2-(3-fluorophenyl)oxirane (5.60 g, 40.5 mmol) in toluene (65 mL) was added 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7.40 g, 61.0 mmol), 1M NaOH (65 mL) and PEG4000 (polyethylene glycol, 0.85 g) and the stirring mixture was heated at 78° C. overnight. The reaction mixture 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 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 1.78 g (17%) of the title compound as a white solid. Fractions containing the lower Rf spot were combined and evaporated in vacuo to give 0.90 g (9%) of the regioisomer as a nearly colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence