Reaction #1994221

Reaction equation

2

Ethyl 2,4-Bis(bromomethyl)benzoate

dioxane sulfuric acid

→

3

5-Hydroxymethylphthalide

Solvents

DCM

Conditions

Workup

1. 1
   Temperaturewas heated
2. 2
   Temperatureunder reflux for 20 h
3. 3
   OtherThe phases were separated
4. 4
   Extractionthe aqueous phase was extracted with DCM (5×200 mL)
5. 5
   WashThe combined organic layers were washed with saturated NaHCO3 (3×200 mL) and brine (1×200 mL)
6. 6
   Dryingwere dried over MgSO4
7. 7
   OtherThe solvent was removed in vacuo

Procedure

A suspension of 2 (22.1 g, 65.7 mmol) in 700 mL of a 1:1 mixture of dioxane/sulfuric acid (1M) was heated under reflux for 20 h. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was poured into 200 mL of DCM. The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with DCM (5×200 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with saturated NaHCO3 (3×200 mL) and brine (1×200 mL) and were dried over MgSO4. The solvent was removed in vacuo to yield 8.70 g (83%) of pure 3 as a colorless solid: 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 4.65 (s, 2H), 5.39 (s, 2H), 5.47 (br s, 1H), 7.51 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.60 (s, 1H), 7.78 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H); 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 62.4, 69.7, 120.0, 123.3, 124.5, 126.9, 147.5, 149.7, 170.5; MS (Cl+ (NH3)) m/z=165.0 (M+H+, 100), 182.0 (M+NH4+, 49).

Source