Sodium 0-naphthoxide reaction with benzyl chloride

The alkylation of sodium 2-naphthoxide with benzyl bromide in tetrabutylam-monium and tetrabutylphosphonium halide salts was investigated by Brunet and Badri [50] (Scheme 5.1-21). The yields in this reaction were quantitative, and alkylation occurred predominantly on the oxygen atom of the naphthoxide ion (typically 93-97 %). The rate of the reaction was slower in the chloride salts, due to the benzyl bromide reacting with chloride ion to give the less reactive benzyl chloride. 

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