Benzyl Bromide → Dibenzyl ether

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

1-Benzyl 2-methyl (2S,4R)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylate (6.60 g, 23.6 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF (100 mL) and cooled to 0° C. under nitrogen. Sodium hydride (1.04 g, 26.0 mmol, 60% dispersion in mineral oil) was added in portions and the mixture was stirred for 15 minutes. Tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (0.40 g, 1.0 mmol) and benzyl bromide (3.15 mL, 26.0 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred for one hour at 0° C. and then one hour at room temperature. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and then brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (20% to 50% ethyl acetate/hexane) to give 4.21 g (48%) of benzyl ether. LC/MS (M+H)+ m/z=370.2; 1H NMR (CDCl3) 7.34 (m, 10H), 5.13 (m, 2H), 4.51 (m, 3H), 4.20 (m, 1H), 3.68 (m, 2H), 3.54 and 3.78 (s, 3H), 2.45 (m, 1H), 2.11 (m, 1H).

Provenance & Evidence