2-Chloroanisole → 3-Ethylhexahydro-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2H-azepin-2-one

Participants

Reaction Steps

2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (8.48 g) was added dropwise with cooling and stirring under nitrogen to a solution of butyl lithium (0.05 mole) in hexane (31.25 ml) and tetrahydrofuran (15 ml). 3-Ethylhexahydro-1-methyl-2H-azepin-2-one (7.75 g) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 ml) was added. On completion of this addition a further portion of butyl lithium (0.06 mole) in hexane (37.5 ml) was added with cooling. After ten minutes o-chloroanisole (8.54 g) was added dropwise in tetrahydrofuran (20 ml). The reaction was then stirred at ambient temperature for c.a. 20 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water, and the tetrahydrofuran removed under reduced pressure. After acidifying with 5 M hydrochloric acid the mixture was extracted with toluene. Toluene extracts were washed with water, dried (MgSO4) and after removal of the solvent the product distilled affording 2.37 g, b.p. 150°-170° C. at 0.6 mm. Corrected by purity by g.l.c. assay, the yield of the title compound was 15.8%.

Provenance & Evidence