Efficient Synthesis of Acrylate by Coupling Fluorine-containing Bromopropenes with Phenols Catalyzed by Ruthenium

We report a case of ruthenium-catalyzed esterification involving difluorobromoallyl. By coupling fluorinated halogenated hydrocar-bons with phenolic compounds, difluoroallyl ethers are first formed, and then two molecules of hydrogen fluoride are removed under the action of a strong base to form acrylate. This chemical conversion process has the advantages of wide substrate applicability and strong functional group tolerance. Finally, we also carried out derivatization reactions on some of the products formed by this chemi-cal conversion, including the Heck reaction with halogenated hydrocarbons catalyzed by palladium, the addition reaction with liquid bromine, and the hydrogenation reduction reaction with hydrogen. It is worth mentioning that the acrylate directly left under the action of palladium-carbon. Phenolic products were formed. Finally, we also carried out the coupling reaction of phenyl acrylate and benzyl benzene.Single crystal diffraction showed that the product was benzyl ether. These reactions all provide ideas and methods for the diversified transformation of acrylate compounds in the later stage.