A new convenient synthesis of ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐chloromethylstyrenes

Ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐chloromethylstyrenes ( 4a – c ) were prepared by a three‐step sequence starting from the commercial ortho‐, meta‐ and para‐bromobenzyl bromides ( 1a – c ), which were transformed into the methoxymethyl derivatives ( 2a – c ). Coupling of the corresponding Grignard compounds with vinylbromide in presence of a transition metal catalyst led to the methoxymethyl styrenes ( 3a – c ), which were transformed into the desired products by reaction with BCl 3 . IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of the 3 isomers were studied.