methyl 2-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)acetate

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

Procedure: To a mixture of 4-(4-chloromethylphenoxymethyl)-5-methyl-2-phenyloxazole (4.58 g), methyl 2-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)acetate (3.0 g) and N,N-dimethylformamide (100 mL) was added sodium hydride (60%, oil, 0.54 g) under ice-cooling, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 hrs. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. After concentration of the organic layer, the residue was subjected to silica gel column chromatography to give crystals (4.46 g, 70%) of methyl 2-[5-bromo-2-[4-[(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolyl)methoxy]benzyloxy]phenyl]acetate from a fraction eluted with ethyl acetate-hexane (1:6, v/v). Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane gave colorless prism crystals. melting point: 100-101° C. cooling extracted with ethyl acetate The organic layer was washed with saturated brine dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate