Water → 3-Fluoro-4-methylphenyl methyl sulfide

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3-fluoro-4-methylaniline (25 g), dimethyl disulphide (375 g) and t-butyl nitrite (30 ml) in 1,2-dichloroethane was warmed to start the reaction. A solution of 3-fluoro-4-methylaniline (225 g) in 1,2-dichloroethane was added dropwise, simultaneously with t-butyl nitrite (241 ml) at such a rate as to maintain the temperature below 60° C. The mixture was stirred for 2 hours, then water was added. The organic layer was washed with water, hydrochloric acid, dried (anhydrous magnesium sulphate) and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness and the residue was distilled to give 2-fluoro-4-(methylsulphenyl)toluene (164 g) as a yellow oil; NMR (acetone-d6); 2.2 (3H,d), 2.5 (3H,s), 7.05 (3H,m).

Provenance & Evidence