4-Fluoroanisole → 4-(5-Fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-trifluoromethylpentanoic acid ethyl ester

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Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 5.9 g (26.1 mmol) of the above 2-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-trifluoromethylpent-4-enoic acid ethyl ester in 30 mL of 4-fluoroanisole was added 5.2 g (39.4 mmol) of aluminum chloride in several portions. The mixture became exothermic and turned black with the first addition and was cooled with an ice-water bath. The mixture was stirred for 3 days and was then poured into 200 mL of ice-cold 1 N aqueous HCl and extracted with three 150 mL portions of EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with 50 mL of 1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid, three 50 mL portions of brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography eluting with EtOAc-hexanes (1:9, then 2:8, then 3:7, then 4:6) to afford 6.6 g (71%) of 4-(5-fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-trifluoromethylpentanoic acid ethyl ester.

Provenance & Evidence