tert-Butyl methyl ether → 4-(tert-Butyl)-3,5-difluorophenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3,5-difluorophenol (TCI, 14 g, 107 mmol), tert-butyl methyl ether (12.8 ml, 108 mmol) and zirconium(IV) chloride (25 g, 107 mmol) was stirred for 12 hours at 55° C., followed by addition of tert-butyl methyl ether (6.4 ml, 54 mmol). The additional injection of tert-butyl methyl ether (6.4 ml, 54 mmol), was repeated 8 times at intervals of 24 hours and then the reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride aqueous solution and 2 M HCl aqueous solution. The whole was extracted with DCM, washed with brine, and dried over magnesium sulfate. The organic layer was evaporated to give a crude residue which was purified by silica gel column chromatography, eluting with gradually from hexane only to hexane/EtOAc (10:1), to give the title compound (10.8 g, 54%) as white solids.

Provenance & Evidence