O-Cresol → 3-Fluoromethoxy-2-[2-(2-methylphenoxymethyl)phenyl]-acrylic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 1.66 g of 2-(2-bromomethylphenyl)-3-fluoromethoxyacrylic acid methyl ester, 0.65 g of o-cresol, 1.38 g of pulverized potash and 0.07 g of 18-crown-6 in 15 ml of acetonitrile is stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. Water is then added, the reaction mixture is acidified with 1N hydrochloric acid and extraction is carried out with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases are dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated by evaporation. Chromatography on silica gel with hexane/ethyl acetate yields pure 3-fluoromethoxy-2-[2-(2-methylphenoxymethyl)phenyl]-acrylic acid methyl ester in the form of a viscous oil.

Provenance & Evidence