Propanoic acid, 2-bromo-2-methyl-, ethyl ester → 2-Methyl-2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenylsulfanyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of 10 g (56 mmol) of 4-trifluoromethylbenzene-1-thiol in ethanol (100 mL) were added 3.14 g (56 mmol) KOH pellets, followed by 10.95 g (56 mmol) ethyl α-bromoisobutyrate. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 18 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature. The solid (KBr) was separated by filtration and rinsed with ethanol (20 mL). The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in DCM (60 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (2×30 mL). The aqueous washes were back-extracted with DCM (15 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine and dried over Na2SO4. Filtration and concentration under reduced pressure afforded 16.3 g of 2-methyl-2-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenylsulfanyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester.

Provenance & Evidence