1-(bromomethyl)-4-chloro-2-methylbenzene

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: To a solution containing (Benzhydrylidene-amino)-acetic acid ethyl ester (2.3 g, 8.6 mmol) in 50 mL of DMSO under a nitrogen atmosphere was added potassium t-butoxide (1.2 g, 11 mmol) After stirring for 20 minutes, 1-Bromomethyl-4-chloro-2-methyl-benzene (1.89 g, 8.6 mmol) was added and the reaction allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. The reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with brine. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate. Filtration, removal of solvent and purification of the residue via biotage eluting with 20% ethyl acetate/hexanes gave 2-(Benzhydrylidene-amino)-3-(4-chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester (1.75 g, 50%) as a yellow oil. LCMS (APCI+) m/z 406 [M+H]+; Rt: 4.16 min. to stir at room temperature overnight washed with brine The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate Filtration, removal of solvent and purification of the residue via biotage eluting with 20% ethyl acetate/hexanes