Reimer-Tiemann formylation alkylation

Under appropriate conditions activated thiazoles are alkylated at the 5-position 2-amino 4-methylthiazole is alkylated in the 5-position by heating with /-butyl alcohol in sulfuric acid (24). Under similar conditions 4-methyl-2-phenylthiazole is alkylated by cyclohexanol. 2-Acetylamino-4-methylthiazole reacts with dimethylamine and formaldehyde to afford the corresponding Mannich base (25). 2-Hydroxy-4-methyIthiazole fails to react when submitted to Friedel-Crafts benzoylation conditions whereas it reacts normally in Gatter-mann and in Reimer-Tiemann formylation reactions yielding the 5-formyl derivative (26). 2,4-Dimethylthiazole undergoes perfluoroalkylation when heated at 200 °C for 8 h in a sealed tube with perfluoropropyl iodide and sodium acetate (27). 

We include in this section formylation reactions involving carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, formyl fluoride and dichloromethyl alkyl ethers." The Vilsmeier and Reimer-Tiemann formylation reactions are the subjects of other chapters (Volume 2, Chapters 3.4 and 3.5). 

Using Reimer-Tiemann reaction conditions on 3-alkyl-6-hydroxy-1,2-benzisoxazoles results in formylation occurring at the 7-position (77UC(B)1056). 

Under favourable circumstances, the initially formed /V-ylid reacts further through C-N cleavage. Thus, in the presence of a strong nucleophile, such as a phenoxide anion, the quaternary dichloromethylammonium cation forms an ion-pair with the phenoxide anion (Scheme 7.27), which decomposes to yield the alkyl aryl ether and the /V-formyl derivative of the secondary amine [22, 23]. Although no sound rationale is available, the reaction appears to be favoured by the presence of bulky groups at the 4-position of the aryl ring. In the absence of the bulky substituents, the Reimer-Tiemann reaction products are formed, either through the breakdown of the ion-pair, or by the more direct attack of dichlorocarbene upon the phenoxide anion [22,23],... 

The Reimer-Tiemann reaction is not an effective route to formyl-pyrroles or -indoles (see Section 3.05.1.6) and the oxidation of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl derivatives of the heterocycles and the reduction of carboxylic acid derivatives are discussed in Sections 3.05.2.2 and 3.05.2.4, respectively. 

In addition to phenols, naphthols, their alkyl derivatives and the heterocyclic compounds mentioned above, a large variety of substituted monocyclic as well as condensed phenols have been subjected to the Reimer-Tiemann reaction. Although with a few exceptions the yields are only moderate, the facile reaction conditions, at least on a laboratory scale, have assured the reaction a permanent place among the variety of methods by which an aldehyde group can be attached to an aromatic nucleus. For example, phenolphthalein (1) has been formylated under standard Reimer-Tiemann conditions by van Kampen to yield the o-hydroxy aldehyde in 59% yield (equation 5)."... 

The use of these intermediates to produce shikimates is shown in Figure 6.32. In principle, anethole (53) and estragole (methyl chavicol) (52) are available from phenol, but in practice, the demand is met by extraction from turpentine. Carboxylation of phenol gives salicylic acid (38) and hence serves as a source for the various salicylate esters. Formylation of phenol by formaldehyde, in the presence of a suitable catalyst, has now replaced the Reimer-Tiemann reaction as a route to hydroxybenzaldehydes. The initial products are saligenin (189) and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (190), which can be oxidized to salicylaldehyde (191) and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (192), respectively. Condensation of salicylaldehyde with acetic acid/acetic anhydride gives coumarin (50) and 0-alkylation ofp-hydroxybenzaldehyde gives anisaldehyde (44). As mentioned earlier, oxidation of phenol provides a route to catechol (184) and guaiacol (188). The latter is a precursor for vanillin, and catechol also provides a route to heliotropin (61) via methylenedioxybenzene (193). 

---