methyl 4-(phenoxymethyl)benzoate

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

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

Procedure: To a stirred mixture of 5.72 g (25.0 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of methyl 4-bromomethylbenzoate (Aldrich) and 3.80 g (27.5 mmol, 1.1 eq.) of K2CO3 in 10 mL of DMF at ambient temperature was added a solution of 2.59 g (27.5 mmol, 1.1 eq.) of phenol in 10 mL of DMF dropwise and the mixture stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into 100 mL of water and extracted with 3×100 mL portions of 25% CH2Cl2 -hexanes. The combined organic phases were extracted with 3×100 mL portions of water, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The solid residue was recrystallized from ~50 mL of hexanes to give 5.31 g (88%) of the title compound as a white, crystalline solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ8.05 (d, 2H), 7.51 (d, 2H), 7.26-7.33 (m, 2H), 6.95-7.02 (m, 3H), 5.13 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H). MS (DCl) m/e 260 (M+NH4)+. extracted with 3×100 mL portions of 25% CH2Cl2 -hexanes The combined organic phases were extracted with 3×100 mL portions of water dried (MgSO4) filtered concentrated in vacuo The solid residue was recrystallized from ~50 mL of hexanes

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

Procedure: To a stirred mixture of 5.72 g (25.0 mmol, 1.0 eq.) of methyl-4-bromomethylbenzoate and 3.80 g (27.5 mmol, 1.1 eq.) of K2CO3 in 10 mL of DMF at ambient temperature was added a solution of 2.59 g (27.5 mmol, 1.1 eq.) of phenol in 10 mL of DMF dropwise, and the mixture stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was poured into 100 mL of water and extracted with 3×100 mL portions of 25% CH2Cl2 -hexanes. The combined organic phases were washed with 3×100 mL portions of water, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated. The solid residue was recrystallized from ~50 mL of hexanes to give 5.31 g (88%) of the title compound as a white, crystalline solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 8.05 (d, 2H), 7.51 (d, 2H), 7.26-7.33 (m, 2H), 6.95-7.02 (m, 3H), 5.13 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H). MS (DCl) m/e 260 (M+NH4)+. extracted with 3×100 mL portions of 25% CH2Cl2 -hexanes The combined organic phases were washed with 3×100 mL portions of water dried (MgSO4) filtered concentrated The solid residue was recrystallized from ~50 mL of hexanes

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

Procedure: A mixture of methyl 4-(phenoxymethyl)benzoate (1.1 g, 4.55 mmol), lithium hydroxide monohydrate (955 mg, 22.8 mmol), tetrahydrofuran (20 mL), methanol (7 mL) and water (7 mL) were stirred at room temperature for 5 hours. The mixture was neutralized to pH to 1 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and then extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL×3). The combined organic phase was separated, dried over sodium sulfate, and then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give methyl 4-(phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid as a white solid (840 mg, 81%). LRMS (M+H)− m/z: calcd 228.08. found 228. extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL×3) The combined organic phase was separated dried over sodium sulfate filtered The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo

Conditions: temp:60.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: A mixture of methyl 4-(bromomethyl)benzoate (1000 mg, 4.37 mmol), phenol (493 mg, 5.24 mmol), potassium carbonate (1200 mg, 8.73 mmol) and acetone (20 mL) was stirred at 60° C. under nitrogen atmosphere for 4 hours. The resultant mixture was concentrated to give a residue. The residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=4:1) to give methyl 4-(phenoxymethyl)benzoate as a white solid (1100 mg, 100%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.01 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.62 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.35-7.30 (m, 2H), 7.04 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 6.98 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 5.23 (s, 2H), 3.88 (s, 3H). The resultant mixture was concentrated to give a residue The residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=4:1)