Water → 4-Heptadecafluorooctyl-phenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of acetic acid 4-iodo-phenyl ester (9 gm, 0.0366 mol) in anhydrous DMSO (75 mL) was added copper powder (5.8 g, 0.091 mol), perfluorooctyl iodide (25 g, 0.046 mol) and iodine (130 mg). The reaction mixture was heated to 105° C. for 18 hr, cooled, combined with 100 ml water and 50 ml ether and filtered to remove insoluble copper salts. The organic and aqueous layers in the filtrate were separated, and the aqueous layer extracted twice with ether (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with water and brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated. To a solution of the crude product in 50 mL methanol was added 1.5 mL 10N HCl. The mixture was refluxed on a steam bath for 1 hr to hydrolyze the acetate completely to the phenol. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was poured into a separatory funnel containing 100 mL water, and extracted with ether (3×75 mL). The combined organics were washed with water and brine and dried over MgSO4. Recrystallization of the crude concentrate gave 12.5 g of the phenol at 99% purity by HPLC as a waxy solid mp 63-68° C.

Provenance & Evidence