N-(4-fluorophenyl)acetamide → N-(4-bromo-2-nitrophenyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)acetamide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a room temperature suspension of sodium hydride (33.4 mmol, 1.34 g of 60% in mineral oil) in 60 mL of THF was added a solution of the N-(4-fluorophenyl)acetamide (4.1 g, 26.8 mmol) in THF (30 mL) over a 5 minute period. After 30 minutes, a solution of 4-bromo-1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene (3.2 mL, 26.8 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was added. After 15 hours, the reaction was concentrated in vacuo, the residue was diluted with 1 N sulfuric acid (300 mL) and extracted with three 100 mL portions of methylene chloride. The combined organic layers were washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to afford a brownish oil. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel eluting with 0-100% ethyl acetate in hexanes to afford 3.7 g of N-(4-bromo-2-nitrophenyl)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)acetamide as a thick yellow oil. MS m/z 353/355 (MH+).

Provenance & Evidence