1-Bromo-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethane is an important raw material and intermediate used in organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dyestuff.
Synthesis
General Procedure for Preparation of 1-Bromo-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethane: Into a 25-mL round bottomed flask equipped with magnetic stir bar, addition funnel and positive flow of nitrogen were placed 15.60 mmol of a ethyleneglycol monomethyl ether. The solution was stirred for 15 min in an ice bath before the dropwise addition of phosphorous tribromide (7.81 mmol) over a 10 min period. The solution was allowed to gradually warm and stir at room temperature (rt) for 14 hrs. The solution was then heated in a 90 °C oil bath for 1 hr, at which time the solution turned yellow. The solution was allowed to cool to rt, poured onto 30 g of ice/water mixture, and made slightly basic with addition of a 10% solution of NaHCO3 (~6 mL). Subsequent extraction with diethyl ether (Et2O) (3 x 30 mL), followed by drying over MgSO4 and concentration under reduced pressure afforded a colorless oil in sufficient purity for use in subsequent reactions.
