THE PREPARATION OF SUBSTITUTED 3'-HALOPIPHENYLETHERS

Abstract: 3'-Carboxydiphenylethers can be halodecarboxy­ lated utilizing mercuric oxide, molecular halogen, and light in an inert atmosphere at moderate temperatures and at atmospheric pressure to afford 3'-halodiphenylethers.

Description: This invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of substituted 3'-halodiphenylethers. The preparation of certain diphenylethers is generally known to be accomplished by reacting a suitably substituted phenol or alkali metal salt thereof with a suitably substituted halobenzene in the presence of an alkaline agent in a polar aprotic solvent and optionally in the presence of a catalyst; see, for example, U.S.-A-Patent 3,966,453; 3,950,435; 4,046,798; 4,093,446 and 4,358,308 and Canadian Patent 1,079,303. Diphenylethers prepared by the above techniques are also generally reported to be used as precursors in preparing certain other diphenylether derivatives. For example, the 4'-halo or 4'-nitro derivatives are prepared by halogenating or nitrating an otherwise suitably substituted diphenylether. Further, 3'-hydroxydiphenylethers can be converted to alpha­ oxymethylene carboxylic esters by condensation with alpha-halo esters in the presence of bases such as potassium carbonate or hydroxide. These alpha­ oxymethylene carboxylic esters can then be converted to the corresponding carboxylic acids, acid chlorides or amides. Furthermore, 3'-alkoxydiphenylethers can be made by reacting the corresponding 3'-halodiphenyl­ ethers prepared by the above described techniques with a carbinol in an inert nonpolar solvent in the presence of base. We have now found a process which can be carried out at about atmospheric pressure, in a substantially inert atmosphere, at moderate temperatures, in the presence of light, using molecular halogen and mercuric oxide, for the halodecarboxylation of certain 3'-carboxydiphenylethers. Unless otherwise stated, in this specification "equivalents" means on a molar basis. This invention provides a process for the preparation of 3'-halodiphenylethers having the formula wherein X is bromo or iodo which comprises halo­ decarboxylating a diphenylether having the formula wherein R is hydrogen or an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion, in a substantially inert atmosphere, in nonpolar solvent, in the presence of mercuric oxide (HgO) and molecular bromine or iodine, under the influence of at least 25 watts of light, preferably at a temperature from 65°C to 150°C, and preferably at about atmospheric pressure. Typical useful nonpolar solvents include alkanes such as hexane or cyclohexane, aromatics such as benzene or toluene, or halogenated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride or methylene chloride. Carbon tetrachloride is the preferred solvent. Generally from 0.5 to 5, preferably about 1, equivalents of mercuric oxide is used per equivalent of diphenylether II. The amount of molecular halogen (Br₂ or I₂) utilized generally is from 1 to 5, preferably about 1.5, equivalents for each equivalent of diphenylether II. The presence of a source of light is also needed in this process. The light should have a power rating of at least 25-watts and preferably at least 75-watts. Preferred temperatures utilized for the process are from 75°C to 110°C. The process should be carried out in a substantially inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon. The reagents used in this halodecarboxylation process can be combined in any order. The 3'-carboxylic acid, alkali salt or alkaline earth metal salt diphenylether of Formula II can be prepared by known standard techniques such as those described above or in U.S.-A-4,485,254. The alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium and lithium, and the alkaline earth metal salts such as magnesium and calcium, of the carboxylic acids of Formula II can be prepared by treating the carboxylic acid with an alkali metal hydroxide or hydride, or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide or hydride such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydride or magnesium hydride in an inert or substantially inert solvent. The 3'-halodiphenylethers prepared by the process of this invention can be used as herbicides or as intermediates in the preparation of other herbicidal diphenylethers by known techniques. The following examples further illustrate the process of this invention. Percentages are by weight unless noted otherwise. EXAMPLE 1 - Preparation of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-­ 3'-bromo-4'-nitrodiphenylether A 50 ml, 3-necked flask was fitted with stir bar, thermometer and reflux condenser. A nitrogen inlet was attached to the condenser and the flask was flushed with nitrogen. 2-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-3'-­ carboxy-4'-nitrodiphenylether (3.62 g, 0.01 mol) was slurried in carbon tetrachloride (25 ml) and the mercuric oxide (red, 3.26 g, 0.01 mol) was added in one portion. The equipment was wrapped in aluminum foil and the mixture was gently refluxed. Bromine (2.40 g, 0.015 mol) was dissolved in carbon tetrachloride (5 ml) and added directly to the mixture. A portion of the foil was opened to allow a 100-watt light bulb to shine into the reaction mixture. The reflux was continued for 3 hours. At this time, the irradiation was stopped and the heat source (heating mantle) was removed. The crude product was allowed to cool to room temperature. Water, and then saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate were added and the mixture was stirred for 20 min. The mixture was vacuum filtered and the layers were separated. The organic layer was concentrated under vacuum to provide an oil containing some white solid. Thin-layer chromatography of this oil on silica gel using 2/98 v/v CH₂Cl₂/hexane showed two major components of Rf's 0.5 to 0.8. Neither component corresponded to starting material. Treatment of the product oil with 5 ml methylene chloride gave precipitation of a white solid. The mixture was vacuum filtered to provide white needles (1.2 g, the Rf = 0.5 component). The mother liquor was concentrated under vacuum to give a yellow oil (1.8 g, nearly pure R f = 0.5 component). This oil was identified as the 3'-bromo product by comparison of its proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectrum with that of the 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-3'-caboxy-4-nitro-diphenyl­ ether starting material. EXAMPLE 2 - Preparation of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-­ 3'-bromo-4'-nitrodiphenylether The procedure in Example 1 was substantially followed on a 10X scale to provide the semi-pure R f = 0.8 component as an oily yellow-brown solid (17 g, 46% crude yield based on 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-3'-­ carboxy-4'-nitrodiphenylether starting material). A portion of this product (5 g) was chromatographed on a 5.1 cm (2 inch) diameter, 30.5 cm (12 inch) length column containing 70-230 mesh silica gel. The column was eluted with 5/95 v/v EtOAc/hexane, increasing to 10/90 v/v EtOAc/hexane. From this treatment, a tan solid (3 g, pure, corresponds to 26% yield from 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-3'-carboxy-4'-nitrodiphenyl­ ether, m.p. 52-54°C) was obtained. The combustion analysis of this product corresponded to 3'-bromo-2-­ chloro-4'-nitro-4-trifluoromethyl diphenylether, C₁₃H₆BrClF₃NO₃. EXAMPLE 3 - Preparation of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-­ 3'-iodo-4'-nitrodiphenylether 2-Chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-3'-carboxy-4'-nitro­ diphenylether (10 g), red mercuric oxide (9 g) and iodine (10 g) were reacted in carbon tetrachloride at 77°C under nitrogen with irradiation, as described in Example 1. The workup of this reaction included addition of 5% aqueous sodium bisulfite solution prior to addition of sodium bicarbonate solution. Chromato­ graphy as described in Example 2 provided yellow crystals (1.90 g, 16% yield based on 2-chloro-4-­ trifluoromethyl-3'-carboxy-4'-nitrodiphenylether, m.p. 71-73°C). The combustion analysis of this product corresponded to 2-chloro-3'-iodo-4'-nitro-4-trifluoro­ methyldiphenylether, C₁₃H₆ClF₃INO₃.

Claims: 1. A process for preparing a compound having the formula: wherein X is bromo or iodo which comprises reacting a diphenylether having the formula: where R is hydrogen or an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ion, with mercuric oxide and molecular bromine or iodine in nonpolar solvent in a substantially inert atmosphere, in the presence of light. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1 carried out at a temperature of 65 to 150°C. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 carried out at substantially atmospheric pressure 4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein from 0.5 to 5, preferably about 1, equivalents of mercuric oxide is used per equivalent of diphenylether II. 5. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein from 1 to 5, preferably about 1.5, equivalents of molecular bromine or iodine are used for each equivalent of diphenylether II. 6. A process as claimed in any preceding claim carried out under the influence of at least 25-watts of light. 7. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the power rating of the light is at least 75-watts. 8. A process as claimed in any preceding claim carried out at a temperature of 75°C to 110°C.

Inventors: PATTERSON, DENNIS RAY
Applicants: ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07C205
IPC codes: C07C67, C07C201, C07C205, B01J19