Chloromethyl Methyl Ether → 3-(Methoxymethoxy)pyridine

Participants

Reaction Steps

Pyridin-3-ol (25 g, 260 mmol) was added to a stirring mixture of NaH (11 g of a 60 wt % dispersion with mineral oil, 260 mmol) and DMF (350 mL) at 0° C. After 30 min, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to RT, stirred for 90 min, and then chloromethoxymethane (20 mL, 260 mmol) was added. After 18 h, the reaction mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated, the organic material was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3, brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was dissolved with CH2Cl2, the solution was filtered through a plug of silica gel (sequential elution; 9:1-1:1 hexane-ethyl acetate), and the second filtrate was concentrated to give 10 g (27%) of 3-(methoxymethoxy)pyridine as a clear yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence