Sciencemadness Discussion Board

methylene ether?

UnintentionalChaos - 5-5-2007 at 18:32

Has anyone come across an even somewhat simple method of producing a methylene ether of catcheol on a lab scale? I imagine that most preparations would require something quite nasty like working with phosgene, followed by reduction, but can't seem to find much on the subject.

PainKilla - 5-5-2007 at 18:38

http://www.google.com/search?q=catechol+methylenation

Edit: UTFSE.

[Edited on 5-5-2007 by PainKilla]

UnintentionalChaos - 5-5-2007 at 19:13

Of course without the word catechol in there, nothing shows up...I did a bunch of searches on methylene ether and the like and nothing useful turned up...Now I feel stupid. *we don't have a smacks head with brick emoticom*

Sauron - 5-5-2007 at 19:54

IIRC dibromoethane (methylene bromide) or diiodomethane (methylene iodide) are the classical reagents for this purpose. Doubtless there have been improvements.