Reaction Steps
To a suspension of phenol (130 mg, 138 mmol) and methyl 4-[4′-(bromomethyl)-2′-methoxy-5′-nitrophenoxy]butanoate (7) (500 mg, 138 mmol) in anhydrous methanol (5 cm3) was added KtOBu (186 mg, 166 mmol). The resulting green mixture was stirred at r.t. for 30 mins after which time a white precipitate had formed. The precipitate was filtered and recrystallised from methanol affording the desired compound 9 as a pure white solid (319 mg, 61%). m.p. 96-98° C. Found C, 61.0; H, 5.8; N, 4.0; C19H21NO7 requires C, 60.8; H, 5.6; N, 3.7%; Rf 0.64 (SiO2, hexane:EtOAc 2:1 v/v); νmax (KBr disc)/cm−1 3000-2800 (m), 1720 (s), 1610, 1580, 1520, 1280, 1220; δH (300 MHz, CDCl3) 2.21 (2H, q, J=6.7 Hz, CH2), 2.57 (2H, t, J=6.7 Hz, CH2), 3.71 (3H, s, OCH3), 3.91 (3H, s, OCH3), 4.14 (2H, t, J=6.7 Hz, CH2), 5.50 (2H, s, CH2), 6.98-7.02 (3H, m, ar), 7.29-7.34 (3H, m, ar), 7.77 (1H, s, ar) ppm; δC (100 MHz, CDCl3) 24.7 (CH2), 30.4 (CH2), 51.7 (OCH3), 56.3 (OCH3), 67.0 (CH2), 68.2 (CH2), 109.4 (CH), 109.6 (CH), 115.0 (CH), 121.5 (CH), 129.6 (CH), 129.7 (CH), 138.9, 147.0, 154.3, 158.1, 173.2 (COOCH3) ppm; m/z (FAB) 376 [(MH), 20%], 282 [(M-C6H5O), 80%].
