Methyl 2-Octyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)decanoate

The product 2was prepared from methyl phenylsulfonyl acetate in situ by the solid-liquid PTC conditions without solvent [1,2]. A mixture of the ester 1 (0.535 g, 2.5 mmol), n-octyl bromide (1.206 g, 6.25 mmol), tBuOK (0.701 g, 6.25 mmol) and 10 % of TBAB (tetrabutylammonium bromide) phase transfer catalyst (80 mg, 0.25 mmol) was placed in a pyrex tube which was then introduced into a Maxidigest MX 350 Prolabo microwave monomode reactor fitted with a rotational system. An approximate temperature of 120 °C was measured at the end of the irradiation time (13 min with 140 w as irradiation power). The mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature. After dilution with ethyl acetate (30 ml) and subsequent filtration through FlorisilTM, the organic product was analysed by GC (using an internal standard) and purified by chromatography on silica gel (pentane : ethyl acetate, 95:5), yield: 86 % of 2, viscous and colourless.

1H NMR (CDCl3): 0.83-0.84 (t, 6H); 1.15-1.4 (m, 28H); 3.62 (s, 3H); 7.5-7.85 (m, 5H).

13C NMR (CDCl3): 168 (ester).

IR (Nujol): 1740 (CO2); 1310 and 1150 cm-1 (SO2). MS (IC-NH3, m / z): 456 (M+ + 18) / 100 %.