Formic Acid → Methyl 2-(3-formylphenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of (3-cyano-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester prepared of Preparation 13, Step A (1.56 g, 8.91 mmol), aluminum-nickel alloy (1.63 g) and 75% formic acid (25 mL) was heated at reflux for 1.75 h. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solids were removed by filtration through Celite® with the aid of boiling EtOH. Water was added, and the aqueous solution was washed with CH2Cl2 (3×). Aqueous saturated NaHCO3 was carefully added to the organic solution until the pH was about 8-9. The organic solution was washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography (5:1 hexanes:EtOAc) provided the title compound as a clear and colorless oil (870 mg). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 9.98 (s, 1H), 7.77 (m, 2H), 7.55-7.46 (m, 2H), 3.68 (s, 5H).

Provenance & Evidence