Acetone → Ethyl alpha-(4-carbomethoxy-2-n-propylphenoxy)-3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetate

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Reaction Steps

To a nitrogen flushed 5 L three neck round bottom flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer, condenser, and a nitrogen inlet was charged 326 g (1.68 mol) of methyl 4-hydoxy-3-n-propylbenzoate, 507.6 g (1.73 mol)of ethyl α-bromo-3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetate from above, 235 g (1.70 mol) of anhydrous potassium carbonate, and 1.7 L of acetone. The mixture was refluxed with vigorous stirring for 9 hr. The suspension was allowed to cool to ambient temperature and stirred overnight. The mixture diluted with 2 L of ether, cooled to 0° C. and filtered through Super-CelR. The cake washed with ether and the combined filtrate concentrated. The residue was redissolved in ether and the organic layer washed with once with 1 N HCl, saturated sodiuim bicarbonate solution, 10% sodium bisulfite solution, brine, dried with magnesium sulfate, treated with charcoal and filtered through a plug of silica. The pale yellow solution was concentrated to 697.3 g (theoretical 678 g) of a thick yellow oil which was used without purification in the next step. NMR was consistent with the title compound.

Provenance & Evidence