Methyl iodide → Methyl alpha-methylbenzeneacetate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of n-butyl lithium in hexane (1.44N, 75 ml, 108 mmol) was added to a solution of diisopropylamine (11.3 g, 112 mmol) in anhydrous THF (200 ml) cooled at -20° C. under argon atmosphere, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled to -78° C. To this solution were added a solution of methyl phenylacetate (12.0 g, 80.0 mmol) in 15 ml of anhydrous THF and HMPA (20.6 g, 115 mmol). The mixture was stirred at -78° C. for 1 hour and then at -30° C. for 30 minutes. To this reaction solution was added a solution of methyl iodide (17.0 g, 120 mmol) in anhydrous THF (30 ml) at -78° C., and the mixture was stirred at -78° C. for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and diluted with an aqueous saturated solution of ammonium chloride (300 ml) and water (150 ml). The mixture was extracted with ether (400 ml). The aqueous layer was further extracted with ether (200 ml×2). The combined organic layers were washed with water (200 ml) and brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated. The residue was distilled (b.p. 92°-93° C./10 mmHg) to give an oil of methyl 2-phenylpropionate (11.3 g, 68.9 mmol, 86.1%). This compound was assigned to the structure by the following data:

Provenance & Evidence