1-(Diphenylmethyl)azetidin-3-one → 1-Benzhydryl-3-methylazetidin-3-ol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of methylmagnesium bromide (263 mL, 790 mmol) in anhydrous THF (800 mL) was added a solution of 1-benzhydrylazetidin-3-one (75 g, 316 mmol) in THF (300 mL) rapidly with vigorous stirring at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 min, then allowed to warm to 25° C. and stirred for 2 h. The reaction mixture was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride (1 L), diluted with water (1 L) and extracted with EtOAc (3×1 L). The combined organic phase was washed with brine (0.5 L), dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (eluting with 10-20% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give 1-benzhydryl-3-methylazetidin-3-ol (65 g, 81%) as a white solid. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz): δ 7.42 (m, 4H), 7.31 (m, 4H), 7.22 (m, 2H), 4.36 (s, 1H), 3.20 (m, 2H), 2.99 (m, 2H), 1.53 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence