Bromosafrole -> MDP2P

[Rhodium]

This article on how to prepare MDP2P from Bromosafrole was posted by lugh a long time ago, but nobody seemed to grasp its significance. The yield is up to 90%, and the needed reagent is 2-nitropropane, which is not watched and also dirt cheap ($15/kg).

https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/halide.carbonyl.html

[hest]

But bee aware that 2-nitropropan is extremly carcinogenic.

[Rhodium]

2-nitropropene should neither be an impurity in the starting material or a product in the reaction. Do you have a different opinion?

[Barium]

But Rhodium is talking about 2-nitropropane, not 2-nitropropene.
Catalytic hydrogenation freak

[hest]

It was just ment as a general warning. Nito- methane, ethane and propane is almost non toxic, but 2-nitropropan is for some reason werry caracinogenic. So you have to doo the condensation with the aldehyde with much more care than usual, that's all. Nice synth by the way.