N-bromobutanimide → Methyl 2-bromo-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of (3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (6.0 g, 25.9 mmol) and N-bromosuccinimide (9.2 g, 51.7 mmol) and a few drops of hydrobromic acid (48% solution) in chloroform (250 mL) was heated under reflux for two days. The reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness, taken up in methylene chloride and loaded onto a column of silica gel. Elution with 5% ethyl acetate/hexanes gave Bromo-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-acetic acid methyl ester (3.0 g, 39% yield) as colorless oil. The NMR spectrum obtained on the sample is compatible with its structure.

Provenance & Evidence