Malonic Acid → 6-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-5-hexene-2-one

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

2-Acetoxypropene (3.3 ml, 30 mmole) and tri-n-butyltin methoxide (5.7 g, 24 mmole) were combined and stirred at 60°-70° C. under N2 for 1 hour then placed under vacuum for an additional 30 minutes. 3-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)propenal (4 g, 20 mmole) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at 70° C. under N2 for 4 hours. The clear reaction mixture was then cooled, treated with malonic acid (1 g, 10 mmole) in ether (20 ml) and refluxed for 30 minutes. After cooling to -20° C., the reaction mixture was filtered and the precipitate was washed with ether (4×10 ml). The ethereal solutions were combined, evaporated and the residual oil was chromatographed on a 60 mm column with 15 cm of silica gel (230-400 mesh). Elution with chloroform-methanol (99:1, v:v; 2.0 L) provided the title compound as a thick yellow oil (4.2 g, 81%); pmr CDCl3) 2.2 (3H, s), 2.73 (2H, d), 4.73 (H, m), 6.10 (H, dd).

Provenance & Evidence