Formic Acid → 4-Benzyl-2-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)morpholine

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Reaction Steps

Combine formic acid (98-100%; 0.30 mL, 8 mmol) and 2-benzylaminoethanol (1.21 g, 8 mmol) and cool the resulting mixture with an ice bath. Add 2-bromo-1-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)ethanone (1.0 g, 4 mmol); heat the mixture to reflux; and stir at that temperature for 20 h. Dilute the mixture with DCM and wash with saturated aqueous Na2CO3 solution. Dry organic phases over MgSO4; filter; collect the filtrate; and concentrate under reduced pressure. Purify via flash column chromatography eluting with a gradient of 0-20% methyl tertiary-butyl ether in hexanes. Combine the product fractions and remove the solvents under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a yellow oil (1.22 g, 43%). MS (m/z): 306 (M+1).

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