Continuous flow multistep synthesis of α-functionalized esters via lithium enolate intermediates

• Timo von Keutz^a,b
• Franz J. Strauss^b
• David Cantillo^a,b
• C. Oliver Kappe^a,b

• ^a Center for Continuous Flow Synthesis and Processing (CC FLOW), Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH (RCPE), Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 Graz, Austria
• ^b Institute of Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010 Graz, Austria

This manuscript describes a continuous flow protocol for the α-alkylation of esters. The method is based on the generation of lithium enolate intermediates from the esters and in situ delivered LDA. The process is then integrated with the electrophilic addition step and a quench in line. A series of α-functionalized ester have been prepared using this procedure with moderate to good yields. Key reaction parameters such as temperature and residence time and their influence on the reaction outcome are discussed in detail.

Read the publication that featured this abstract