NOVEL SUBSTITUTED PHENYL ETHERS, PROCESS FOR THEIR PREPARATION, AND THEIR USE IN THE PREPARATION OF SUBSTITUTED PHENOLS

Abstract: Novel compounds of the general formula in which X represents a hydrogen or a chlorine atom, and each of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group, are useful intermediates in the preparation of the corresponding phenols. They may be prepared by reacting a compound of the general formula in which X has the meaning given above and Ha1 represents a chlorine or fluorine atom, with a compound of the general formula in which R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ have the meanings given above, in the presence of a base.

Description: This invention relates to novel substituted phenyl ethers, a process for their preparation, and their use in the preparation of substituted phenols. 4-Trifluoromethylphenol and 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenol are useful intermediates in the preparation of certain substituted phenyl ethers - see for example US Specifications 3819755 and 3888932. These phenols are however rather difficult to synthesise, as the trifluoromethyl group tends to be unstable under a wide range of reaction conditions which might normally be used to introduce a hydroxy group into a phenyl ring. Accordingly much research has been devoted to the preparation of these compounds, and many possible routes have been described, see for example French Specification 1469596 and German Patent 1257784. All such processes, however, are either chemically or economically unattractive. The Applicants have now found a reaction which unexpectedly gives a novel intermediate which can be used in the preparation of these substituted phenols. The present invention provides a compound of the general formula in which X represents a hydrogen or a chlorine atom, and each of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group. Preferably X represents a hydrogen atom, and preferably each of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of a compound of the general formula I, which comprises reacting a compound of the general formula in which X has the meaning given above and Hal represents a chlorine or fluorine atom, with a compound of the general formula in which R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ have the meanings given above, in the presence of a base. Suitable bases include alkoxides such as sodium or potassium tertiary butoxide; alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and quaternary ammonium hydroxides such as sodium or potassium hydroxide; and alkali metal hydrides and amides. The reaction is preferably carried out in the presence of a suitable polar aprotic solvent, for example dimethylsulphoxide, sulpholane, a polyether such as dimethoxyethane or the various oligo ethylene glycol bis ethers such as bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme) or tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme), or an amide such as dimethyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide, hexamethylphosphoramide or N-methylpyrrolidone. Mixtures of solvents may be useful. The reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature in the range of from 70-200°C, especially 100-150°C. The molar ratio of the reactants is not crucial; typically the molar ratio of the compound of the general formula II to the compound of the general formula III is in the range of 1:5 to 5:1, preferably 1:3 to 1:1. It is most surprising that the process according to the present invention leads to a compound of the general formula I. It would have been expected that, on the contrary, the isomeric compound containing the group would have been the product prepared by the process of the present invention. Unlike this isomeric compound, which would be expected to be stable under acid conditions, the compound of the general formula I can be cleaved using water or an alcohol under acid conditions to produce the corresponding phenol. Accordingly the present invention also provides a process for the preparation of a compound of the general formula in which X has the meaning given above, which comprises the lysis using water or an alcohol under acid conditions of a compound of the general formula I. The compound used for the lysis may be water or a mono- or poly-functional alcohol, for example a sugar, for example galactose or glucose, or an alcohol derived from an alkane having up to 8 carbon atoms, for example ethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol, and monoalkanols having up to 4 carbon atoms. The water or alcohol itself may act as solvent for the reaction, or one or more additional solvents may also be used. Suitable additional solvents include for example hydrocarbons or chlorinated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene or petrol, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone or acetone, or ethers such as dimethoxy ethane, bis(dimethoxyethane) ether or tetrahydrofuran. The acid used is not critical; mineral acids such as sulphuric, hydrochloric or phosphoric acid, organic acids such as p -toluene sulphonic acid, and solid ion-exchange resins, may all be used. The reaction temperature may vary over a wide range, but is preferably in the range of from 0-100°C. If it is desired to prepare a phenol of the general formula IV in which X is a chlorine atom, this may be done by using as starting material a compound of the general formula I in which X is a chlorine atom. Alternatively, the compound may be prepared by chlorination of the phenol of the general formula IV in which X represents a hydrogen atom. This reaction may be carried out using any suitable chlorinating agent, for example N-chlorosuccinimide or elemental chlorine, preferably at a temperature in the range of from 0-150°C, conveniently under reflux or at room temperature. Any suitable solvent may be used, for example a hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon such as those listed above. Surprisingly, it has been found that the compound of the formula IV in which X is a chlorine atom, can be obtained easily and in high yield and high purity, if the lysis of the compound of the general formula I is carried out in the presence of an inert organic solvent, preferably a hydrocarbon or a chlorinated hydrocarbon, and in the additional presence of a polyfunctional organic alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups, and the resulting reaction mixture is chlorinated in situ using elemental chlorine. Typical alcohols which may be present are sugars, for example galactose or glucose, and alcohols derived from alkanes having up to 8 carbon atoms, for example ethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane and, especially, pentaerythritol. The following Examples illustrate the invention. Examples 1 to 8 illustrate the preparation of compounds of the general formula I, while Examples 9 to 16 illustrate the use of these compounds in the preparation of phenols. Example 17 illustrates the conversion of a phenol into its chlorinated analogue. Example 1 Allyl alcohol (174g) was added to a mixture of potassium hydroxide (298g of 85% flake) and sulpholane (750ml) under nitrogen, and the mixture was heated to 125-135°C. 4-Chlorobenzotrifluoride (272g) was added over 20 minutes at this temperature. After 2 hours, the reaction mixture was cooled to 30°C, and 207g of propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether was isolated by distillation from the solvent, boiling point 84-88°C at 15mmHg. Example 2 A mixture of allyl alcohol (116g) and 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride (181g) was added over 1 hour to a mixture of dimethyl sulphoxide (500ml) and potassium hydroxide (199g of 85% flake) at 90°-105°C under nitrogen. The mixture was then stirred at this temperature for 3 hours after which time the temperature was reduced to 30°C, the reaction mixture was diluted with water (1l) and 60-80° petrol (750ml). The organic phase was separated,and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product weighed 204g and was shown by GLC to contain 77% of propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether. Example 3 A mixture of allyl alcohol (58g) and 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride (91g) was added over 2 hours to a gently refluxing (67°C) mixture of dimethylsulphoxide (250ml), 60-80° petrol and potassium hydroxide (99.5g of 85% flake). The mixture was then refluxed for a further 21 hours. After work-up as described above, 107.5g of crude product, containing 91% of the desired product, was obtained. 95g of pure propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether, boiling point 90-95°C at 18mm Hg, was isolated by distillation, corresponding to a yield of 86%. Example 4 The procedure of the preceding example was repeated except that the solvent was replaced by sulpholane (250ml), 60-80 petrol (30ml) and 80-100 petrol (25ml). An 80% yield of pure propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether was obtained. Example 5 A mixture of allyl alcohol (5.8g), 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride (9.03g) and potassium hydroxide (9.9g of 85% flake) in 25ml of diglyme was stirred vigorously under nitrogen for 2 hours at 120°C followed by 1 hour at 150°C. Analysis by gas chromatography showed the presence of 76% propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether. Example 6 A mixture of 3,4-dichlorobenzotrifluoride (53.75g), allyl alcohol (43.5g) and potassium hydroxide (842.2g of 85% pellets) in 375ml dimethylsulphoxide was stirred at 80°C for 2 hours. The mixture was then poured into water (1100ml) and extracted with 40/60 petrol. The main product was shown by gas chromatography to be propenyl 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether. Example 7 A mixture of methallyl alcohol (50.48g), 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride (63.2g) and potassium hydroxide (69g of 85% flake) in 175ml sulpholane was stirred under nitrogen at 120-145°C for 21 hours. The mixture was then cooled, added to 200ml water and extracted twice with 60/80 petroleum ether. The solvent was removed and purified by fractionation to give isobutenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether, boiling point 77-77.5°C at 8mm Hg. Example 8 A mixture of allyl alcohol (4.0 kg) and 4-chlorobenzotrifluoride (6.2 kg) was added over 6 hours to a stirred mixture of potassium hydroxide (6.8 kg of 85% material) and tetraglyme (17.4 kg) at 80°C. The temperature was then raised to 100°C for 2½ hours, after which time the reaction mixture was cooled, distilled, triturated with toluene and re-distilled to give 4.7 kg of propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether. Example 9 A mixture of propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether (60.0g), methanol (350ml) and aqueous sulphuric acid (20ml 98% H₂SO₄ in 50ml water) was refluxed for 4 hours. After dilution with water (1200ml), the product was extracted twice with toluene. Removal of solvent and distillation of the residue gave 4-trifluoromethylphenol (33.43g), boiling point 63-64°C at 6mm Hg. Example 10 The procedure of Example 9 was repeated except that the methanol and sulphuric acid was replaced by dimethoxyethane and hydrochloric acid. A similar result was obtained. Example 11 The procedure of Example 10 was repeated except that the dimethoxyethane was replaced by acetone. A similar result was obtained. Example 12 A mixture of propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether (4.04g), D-glucose (20mmol), p -toluenesulphonic acid (200mg) and carbon tetrachloride (20ml) was refluxed with stirring under nitrogen for 2.5 hours. Analysis by gas chromatography showed complete conversion to the corresponding phenol. Example 13 The procedure of Example 12 was repeated except that the D-glucose was replaced by D-galactose. A similar result was obtained. Example 14 The procedure of Example 9 was repeated except that the propenyl ether was replaced by the corresponding isobutenyl ether. After 27 hours under reflux, gas chromatographic analysis showed that hydrolysis was 58% complete. Example 15 A mixture of isobutenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether (10.8g), pentaerythritol (31g), carbon tetrachloride (55ml) and p -toluenesulphonic acid (0.5g) was refluxed for 1 hour, after which time gas chromatographic analysis showed that conversion to the phenol was complete. Example 16 A mixture of propenyl 4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether (0.5mol), pentaerythritol (0.25mol) and p -toluenesulphonic acid (5g) in carbon tetrachloride (500ml) was stirred and refluxed under nitrogen for 40 minutes. The resulting solution was washed with water (250ml), and then dried by azeotroping 150ml solvent in vacuo . After addition of 150ml fresh carbon tetrachloride, chlorine was passed into the solution for 2 hours, after which the solution was washed with water (250ml) and the solvent was evaporated off. The remaining product was purified by fractional distillation to give 74.8g of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenol, boiling point 52-53.5 °C at 6mm Hg, which was identified and shown to have a purity of greater than 97% by gas chromatography. Example 17 4-Trifluoromethyl phenol (32.4g) was dissolved in carbon tetrachloride (150ml) and chlorine gas was bubbled into the stirred mixture for 1.25 hours, the temperature being maintained at 20-30°C. The solvent was then removed in vacuo , and 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenol, boiling point 64-66°C at 10mm Hg, was obtained by distillation, in a yield of 93%.

Claims: 1. A compound of the general formula in which X represents a hydrogen or a chlorine atom, and each of R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group. 2. A compound as claimed in claim 1, in which each of X, R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom. 3. A process for the preparation of a compound as claimed in claim 1, which comprises reacting a compound of the general formula in which X has the meaning given in claim 1 and Ha1 represents a chlorine or fluorine atom, with a compound of the general formula in which R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ have the meanings given in claim 1, in the presence of a base. 4. A process as claimed in claim 3, carried out at a temperature in the range of from 100-150°C. 5. A process as claimed in claim 3, carried out substantially as described in any one of Examples 1 to 8 herein. 6. A process for the preparation of a compound of the general formula in which X has the meaning given in claim 1, which comprises the lysis using water or an alcohol under acid conditions of a compound as claimed in claim 1. 7. A process as claimed in claim 6, in which a compound of the general formula IV is prepared in which X represents a chlorine atom, which comprises the lysis of a compound of the general formula I in which X represents a hydrogen atom, and the subsequent chlorination of the resulting compound of the general formula IV in which X represents a hydrogen atom. 8. A process as claimed in claim 7, in which the lysis of the compound of the general formula I is carried out in the presence of an inert organic solvent, and in the additional presence of a polyfunctional alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups, and the resulting compound of the general formula IV is chlorinated in situ using elemental chlorine. 9. A process as claimed in claim 6, carried out substantially as described in any one of Examples 9 to 16 herein. 10. A compound as claimed in claim 1, whenever prepared by a process as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5. 11. A compound of the general formula IV as defined in claim 6, whenever prepared by a process as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9.

Inventors: BRINER, PAUL HOWARD, MASON, RONALD FRANK
Applicants: SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: C07C43
IPC codes: B01J23, C07B61, C07C43, C07C37, C07C41, C07C67, C07C39, C07C27