Synthesis and selected reactions of 4-(diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)-3-furoic acid

Abstract

Reduction of 4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-3-furoyl chloride with sodium borohydride in dioxane-DMF mixture leads to an ethyl 4-hydroxymethylfuran-3-carboxylate. The treatment of the latter with thionyl chloride at boiling yields the corresponding chloromethyl derivative. The obtained chloride reacts with one equivalent of sodium iodide in acetone at room temperature to form iodomethylfuran. Halomethylfurans synthesized are phosphorylated with sodium diethyl phosphite and triethyl phosphite to give ethyl 4-(diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)-3-carboxylate. The hydrolysis of this substance with one equivalent of potassium hydroxide in ethanol gives the corresponding furoic acid. Treating this substance in succession with ethyl chloroformate and sodium azide yields furoyl azide which while heating in toluene undergoes rearrangement to phosphorus-containing 3-furylisocyanate. Heating the latter with a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride gives N-[4-(diethoxyphosphorylmethyl) furyl-3]acetamide. 4-(Diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)-3-furoic acid reacts with thionyl chloride to form the corresponding furoyl chloride. Its reduction with sodium borohydride in dioxane-DMF mixture leads to the phosphorylated 3-furylmethanol. Aminomethylation of its acetate with dimethylmethyleneiminium chloride in acetonitrile does not proceed at the ring. Instead of that the unstable ester of 3-(dimethylamino) propionic acid and the phosphorylated 3-furylmethanol are formed. In slightly basic medium free Mannich base decomposed to give the starting acetate.