Ethyl 2-furoate → Ethyl 5-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)-2-furoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 60 g. of 3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl bromide in 200 ml. of carbon disulfide was slowly added over a period of 45 minutes to a solution of 260 g. of ethyl 2-furoate and 20 g. of zinc chloride in 600 ml. of carbon disulfide held at -10° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature, filtered, extracted with water and saturated sodium chloride solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed and the residue distilled to give 27 g. of ethyl 5-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)-2-furoate, b.p. 162°-166° C. (0.5 mm), which crystallized to a solid, m.p. 67°-68° C.

Provenance & Evidence