Carbonylation of 1-Bromo-2,6-bis(bromomethyl)benzene Catalyzed by Cobalt Carbonyl

Carbonylation of 1-Bromo-2,6-bis(bromomethyl)benzene Catalyzed by Cobalt Carbonyl

Dialkyl 1-bromobenzene-2,6-diacetates were easily prepared by the carbonylation of the moiety of benzylic bromide in 1-bromo-2,6-bis(bromomethyl)benzene with alcohol in the presence of NaOAc< ${\cdot}$3H$_2$O and a catalytic amount of Co$_2$(CO)$_8$under the atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide at room temperature in excellent yield. Alkyl 2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)benzoates were obtained by the carbonylation of the moiety of aryl bromide in 1-bromo-2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)-benzene, which derived from 1-bromo-2,6-bis(bromomethyl)benzene, alcohol, NaOR, and CH$_3$I under the same conditions. Alkyl 2,6-bis(carboxymethyl)benzoate was also obtained in a trace amount for 24 hrs at room temperature.