Solvent-free reactions ether synthesis

The Jacobs-Gould intramolecular cyclization of diethyl N-(6-methyl-2-pyridyl)amino-methylenemalonate to 3-ethoxycarbonyl-7-methyl-l,8-naphthyrid-4-one is another reaction ideally suited to microwave heating, although conductively heated equipment was employed for laboratory-scale experiments [45]. The product is a key intermediate in the synthesis of nalidixic acid, the first of the quinolone antibacterials. The process usually is conducted at temperatures of 200-250 °C and in high dilution, with heat transfer oils such as the eutectic mixture of diphenyl ether and biphenyl. However, it proceeded rapidly, predictably and controllably under solvent-free conditions. 

Microwave heating and catalysis have been successfully used in the solvent-free synthesis of cosmetic fatty esters (Villa et al., 2003). Two kinds of reaction were performed acid-catalysed esterification (Figure 3.11) and phase-transfer catalysed alkylations, both reactions affording near quantitative yields when microwave heating was used. It should be noted that diethyl ether and water were used in the purification of the product, and alternative purification/separation procedures would be required if this process was performed on an industrial scale, due to the flammability risk of diethyl ether. 

The preparations of lithium and sodium (cyclooctane-1,5-diyl)dihydro-borates(l-) in tetrahydrofuran proceed via isolable, stable etherates. These can be made solvent-free simply by heating under vacuum. 9-Borabicyclo[3.3.1 ]-nonane dimer (9-BBN) can easily be prepared from cycloocta-1,5-diene2 by reaction with tetraethyldiborane(6), tetrahydrofuran-borane8,9 or dimethyl sulfide-borane.10 The synthesis of alkali metal (cyclooctane-1,5-diyl)dihydroborates is achieved by addition of 9-BBN to a suspension of the alkali metal hydride in tetrahydrofuran. Lithium hydride reacts more slowly than sodium or potassium hydride. The reactions are brought to completion by heating under reflux. 

Synthesis of aromatic ethers has been performed under solvent-free phase-transfer catalysis conditions by reaction of several aryl halides with potassium methoxide or phenoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of 18-crown-6. The specific MW effects were shown to be very dependent on the nucleophile and on the structure of the aromatic compound (activated or nonactivated, chloride or fluoride) (Eq. (56), Table 4.17) [96, 142]. 

In the protection of alcohol functionality in tetrahydropyranyl (THP) ether reactions, when ionic Uquid (IL) was used, 2-(benzyloxy)-tetrahydro-2 H-pyran was obtained from alcohols using Lewis acid [bmim][InClJ IL as a catalyst in micro-wave (MW) promoted solvent-free synthesis [23,24]. [bmim][InClJ maintained its catalytic activity well, even after five cycles. 

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