(E)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)but-3-en-2-one

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

Procedure: A solution of benzaldehyde (1.650 ml, 16.32 mmol) in DMF (5 ml) was added dropwise over the course of ½ hour to a mixture of sodium cyanide (0.401 g, 8.17 mmol) in DMF (20 ml) at 35° C. Stirring was then continued for 1.5 hours at 35° C. A solution of (E)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)but-3-en-2-one (2.0 g, 12.18 mmol) and DMF (10 ml) was then slowly added dropwise over the course of 3.5 hours at 35° C. Stirring was then continued for 3.5 hours at the same temperature. The reaction mixture was treated with twice its volume of water and extracted with DCM. The combined extracts were washed with water and brine, dried with Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated to give a liquid, which was further purified by chromatography on silica gel using an automated Biotage system and EtOAc/Hex (0-50%) to give 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-phenylpentane-1,4-dione (1.5 g, 5.55 mmol, 45.6% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ (ppm) 7.95-7.93 (m, 2H), 7.50-7.46 (m, 1H), 7.40-7.32 (m, 3H), 7.26-7.21 (m, 3H), 5.11 (dd, 1H), 3.59 (dd, 1H), 2.76 (dd, 1H), 2.19 (s, 3H). Stirring was then continued for 3.5 hours at the same temperature extracted with DCM The combined extracts were washed with water and brine dried with Na2SO4 filtered concentrated to give a liquid, which was further purified by chromatography on silica gel using an automated Biotage system and EtOAc/Hex (0-50%)

Conditions: temp:65.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: To a mixture of 4-fluorobenzaldehyde (5 mL, 45.2 mmol), propan-2-one (9.13 mL, 124 mmol), and water (9.5 mL) was added 12 mL of a 1% solution of NaOH in water. The reaction mixture was heated at 65° C. for 2 h. The mixture was then partitioned between EtOAc and ice water, the organic layer separated and the aqueous layer was extracted twice with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried with MgSO4 and concentrated under vacuum. The product was obtained as a yellow oil and was used in the next step without further purification (7.93 g, 48.3 mmol, 100% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ (ppm) 7.54-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.47 (d, 1H), 7.08 (t, 2H), 6.64 (d, 1H), 2.37 (s, 3H). The mixture was then partitioned between EtOAc and ice water the organic layer separated the aqueous layer was extracted twice with EtOAc The combined organic layers were dried with MgSO4 concentrated under vacuum The product was obtained as a yellow oil was used in the next step without further purification (7.93 g, 48.3 mmol, 100% yield)