A New Synthesis of Arylacetic Esters Starting from Aromatic Aldehyde by the Use of Methyl (Methylthio)methyl Sulfoxide

Methyl (methylthio) methyl sulfoxide was found to react with benzaldehyde in the presence of benzyl tri-methylammonium hydroxide (Triton B), sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide, affording 1-(methylsulfinyl)1-(methylthio)-2-phenylethylene. Treatment of this product with hydrogen chloride in an alcohol gave the corresponding alkyl phenylacetate in high yield. The whole reaction sequence provides a new method for synthesizing phenylacetic esters starting from benzaldehyde. In a similar manner, (alkoxy-, halogen-, or alkyl-substituted phenyl)acetic esters could be synthesized from the corresponding aromatic aldehydes. The present method was shown to be also applicable to the production of (2-thienyl)acetic esters.