Hydrochloric Acid → (E)-4-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-4-methyl-pent-2-enoic acid ethyl ester

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Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of triethyl phosphonoacetate (4.58 ml) in tetrahydrofuran (30 ml) was added portionwise sodium hydride (1.00 g, 60% dispersion in oil). The mixture was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature and then a solution of 2-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-2-methyl-propionaldehyde (3.46 g) in tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) was added dropwise at 0° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 1 day. The mixture was then acidified by addition of 1 M aq. hydrochloric acid and taken up in ethyl acetate. The mixture was washed sequentially with water and with saturated brine, then dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (SiO2, heptane/EtOAc gradient) to yield a colourless oil, (4.14 g, 84%); MS (ISP): 237.3 ([M+H]+).

Provenance & Evidence