A convenient method for the synthesis of ibuproxam, which is a non steroidal antiinflammatory agent, is reported. Friedel-Crafts reaction of isobutylbenzene with ethyl alpha-chloro-alpha-(methylthio)acetate (3) gives ethyl alpha-methylthio-(p-isobutyl...
A convenient method for the synthesis of ibuproxam, which is a non steroidal antiinflammatory agent, is reported. Friedel-Crafts reaction of isobutylbenzene with ethyl alpha-chloro-alpha-(methylthio)acetate (3) gives ethyl alpha-methylthio-(p-isobutylphenyl) acetate (4). Ethyl 2-methylthio-2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionate (5) is obtained from methylation of the compound (4) with NaH and MeI. Ibuproxam (7) is easily synthesized by reductive desulfurization of the compound (5) with zinc dust-acetic acid or Raney nickel, followed by treatment of the resultant ethyl 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionate (6) with H2NOH-HCl.