Methyl 2-bromo-4-fluoro-5-nitrophenoxyformate → 2-Bromo-4-fluoro-5-nitrophenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A stirred solution of 1031 g (3.5 moles) of 2-bromo-4-fluoro-5-nitrophenyl methyl carbonate in 300 mL of 2.3N aqueous sodium hydroxide was heated to reflux and stirred for three hours. The hot reaction mixture was filtered through diatomaceous earth. Any material remaining in the reaction vessel was washed onto the filter cake with 1000 mL of water. The filtrate was cooled to 8°-10° C., and 560 mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid was added, with stirring, over one hour. The resultant solid was collected by filtration. Any material remaining in the reaction vessel was washed onto the filter cake with 1000 mL of water. The dried filter cake was recrystallized from toluene to give, in two crops, 543 g of 2-bromo-4-fluoro-5-nitrophenol, m.p. 124°-126° C.

Provenance & Evidence