Hi!
I would like to know if anyone has ever had success with the microwave promoted pyridine*HCl demethylation depicted in https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/ether.cleavage.py-hcl.mw.pdf (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/ether.cleavage.py-hcl.mw.pdf)
on vanillin? The only thing I was able to find about it was a side note, telling that someone once tried it without success (here: Post 508710 (https://www.thevespiary.org/talk/index.php?topic=6507.msg50871000#msg50871000)
(Cadenza: "microwave type etc.", Chemistry Discourse)). He did use a modified mw oven, reflux setup and looong reaction times, though.
I just wondered because the paper seems to state that virtually every substituent on the phenyl is possible without interfering with the ether deprotection - but they use pulse irradiation (8 x 2 minutes at "medium low" in a standard domestic mw oven) and suggest using a stoppered vessel, rather than a reflux condenser.
Now without criticizing Cadenza, but maybe he just did run the reaction too long? Or maybe his problem was the everything else than inert atmosphere?
If you have any ideas about why the mentioned demethylation could NOT work with vanillin, I would be eager to hear them too (is vanillin somewhat hindered, compared to the substrates the authors of the article chose?)
TIA for answering my newbee questions!
indole_amine
Still noone with any experience in microwave vanillin demethylations? I can't believe it.
But this one looks cool, too:
Demethylation of 4-Methoxyphenylbutyric Acid Using Molten Pyridinium Hydrochloride on Multikilogram Scale
(Christopher R. Schmid, Christopher A. Beck, Jason S. Cronin, and Michael A. Staszak)
Org. Proc. Res. Dev., 8 (4), 670 -673, 2004
DOI:10.1021/op0499526 S1083-6160(04)09952-9 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/op0499526%20S1083%2D6160%2804%2909952%2D9)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_imgs/pdf.gif)
Abstract:
4-Methoxyphenylbutyric acid (2) is smoothly demethylated in 3 h at 180 C when melted with pyridinium hydrochloride (Pyr·HCl), affording 4-hydroxyphenylbutyric acid (3), a key starting material for the preclinical candidate LY518674 (1). The adaptation of this chemistry to 22-L and pilot-plant scale is described, including findings to facilitate product isolation, selection of a compatible extraction solvent, and observation of an unusual relationship between the number of solvent extractions and the Pyr·HCl stoichiometry. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first literature report of the use of this classic demethylation chemistry on multikilogram scale.
With special greets to LabTop... :)
indole_amine
In https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/methylenation.html#pyralcl (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/methylenation.html#pyralcl)
, a lewis acid (AlCl3) is used, together with pyridine, to affect the demethylation of vanillin. What is the reason behind using a lewis acid?
Thanks!
indole_amine