2-Chloroethanol → Benzene, (2-chloroethoxy)-

Participants

Reaction Steps

FR 2549828 discloses a multistage process for preparing 4-[2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy]benzylamine starting from phenol. Reaction of phenol with ethylenechlorohydrin initially delivers 2-phenoxyethanol which is reacted with thionyl chloride to give 2-phenoxyethyl chloride. After distilling this intermediate, it is reacted with acetamide and paraformaldehyde and then treated with mineral acid to give N-(2-chloroethoxybenzyl)acetamide. Reaction with dimethylamine then leads to N-[2-(dimethylamino)-ethoxy]acetamide, from which the desired product is released by acid hydrolysis. The process disclosed which has 6 separate process steps and an overall yield of 50% based on the phenol used is uneconomic.

Provenance & Evidence