methyl 2-bromo-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)acetate

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

Procedure: A solution of methyl 2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-mesyloxyacetate (8.2 g) in dimethylformamide (30 ml) was treated with potassium bromide (4.0 g) at 50° C. for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was partitioned between water (200 ml) and ethyl acetate (300 ml). The organic phase was separated and washed twice with water (2×200 ml) and finally with saturated brine solution (200 ml). The ethyl acetate solution was dried and concentrated to dryness giving crude methyl 2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-bromoacetate (8 g). Filtration through a column of silica gel using dichloromethane as eluent gave the pure substance as an oil (7.4 g). The reaction mixture was partitioned between water (200 ml) and ethyl acetate (300 ml) The organic phase was separated washed twice with water (2×200 ml) and finally with saturated brine solution (200 ml) The ethyl acetate solution was dried concentrated to dryness