Water → Phytanyl Bromide

Participants

Reaction Steps

Magnesium bromide etherate (17 g, 55 mmol) and a stir bar were added to a 500 mL round bottom flask. The flask was sealed and flushed with nitrogen and anhydrous diethyl ether (200 mL) added via cannula. A solution of phytanyl mesylate (10.9 g, 28.9 mmol (FW=377)) in anhydrous ether (50 mL) was also added via canulla, and the suspension stirred overnight. The following morning a precipitate had formed on the side of the flask. Chilled water (200 mL) was added (ppte dissolved) and the mixture transferred to a 1000-mL separating funnel. After shaking, the organic phase was separated. The aqueous phase was then extracted with ether (2×150 mL) and all ether phases combined. The ether phase was washed with water (2×150 mL), brine (150 mL) and dried over anhydrous Mg2SO4. The solution was filtered, concentrated, and purified by flash chromatography. Final yield 9.5 g (26.3 mmol, 91.1%).

Provenance & Evidence