Vanillin → 4-(Difluoromethoxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Steps

Chlorodifluoromethane is introduced into a mixture of 200 g of vanillin, 6.7 g of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, 314 g of 50% strength sodium hydroxide solution and 2 liters of dioxane with vigorous stirring for about 2 h. The mixture is then partitioned between ice water and ethyl acetate, the organic phase is separated off, the aqueous phase is extracted twice by stirring with ethyl acetate, and the combined organic phases are dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated in vacuo. To remove unreacted vanillin, the oil is chromatographed on neutral silica gel using toluene. After evaporating the eluate, 249 g of 4-difluoromethoxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde are obtained as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence