CARBONYLATION OF 1-BROMO-2,6-BIS(BROMOMETHYL)BENZENE CATALYZED BY COBALT CARBONYL

Dialkyl 1-bromobenzene-2,6-diacetates were easily prepared by the carb onylation of the moiety of benzylic bromide in 1-bromo-2,6-bis(bromome thyl)benzene with alcohol in the presence of NaOAc.3H2O and a catalyti c amount of Co2 (CO)8 under the atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxid e at room temperature in excellent yield. Alkyl 2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)b enzoates were obtained by the carbonylation of the moiety of aryl brom ide in 1-bromo-2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)-benzene, which derived from 1-bro mo-2,6-bis(bromomethyl)benzene1, alcohol, NaOR, and CH3I under the sam e conditions. Alkyl 2,6-bis(carboxymethyl)benzoate was also obtained i n a trace amount for 24 hrs at room temperature.