1,3-Difluoro-2-nitrobenzene → 3-Fluoro-2-nitrophenol

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Reaction Steps

A solution of potassium tert-butoxide (1.23 g, 11 mmol) in 25 mL of anhydrous DMSO was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and treated with 1,3-difluoro-2-nitrobenzene (1.59 g, 10 mmol). After 18 hours, the mixture was diluted with 150 mL of 1 N aqueous sulfuric acid and extracted with three 50 mL portions of diethyl ether. The combined organic layers were washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 50 mL of trifluoroacetic acid. After 30 minutes at room temperature, the mixture was concentrated in vacuo, treated with 50 mL of 1 N aqueous sodium hydroxide, and extracted with three 30 mL portions of diethyl ether. The aqueous layer was acidified with 1 N aqueous sulfuric acid and extracted with two 50 mL portions of dichloromethane. The combined dichloromethane layers were washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give 1.3 g of 3-fluoro-2-nitrophenol as orange oil (61% yield).

Provenance & Evidence