2-Thiophenecarboxylic acid → 5-Chloromethyl-2-thienylcarboxylic acid

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Reaction Steps

2-Thiophenecarboxylic acid is treated in a solution of chloroform with chloromethyl ether in the presence of 0.9 to 2.2 equivalents of aluminum chloride to give 5-chloromethyl-2-thienylcarboxylic acid. Treatment of the obtained acid with excess thionyl chloride at room temperature for about 16 hours yields the acid chloride which is reacted with diazomethane to give the corresponding diazoketone. A methanol solution of the diazoketone is irradiated under nitrogen for about one hour with a high pressure mercury lamp using a Quarz filter. The methyl 5-chloromethyl-2-thienylacetate is obtained upon work up and column chromatography on silica gel. The acetate is hydrolyzed by treatment of a 1:1 mixture of acetic acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid at room temperature overnight to give 5-chloromethyl-2-thienylacetic acid.

Provenance & Evidence