Novel facile method for the synthesis of methyl 2-fluoro-3-hydroxypropanoate from Claisen salts and formaldehyde in water

Methyl 2-fluoro-3-hydroxypropanoate (MFHP) and its derivative methyl 3-chloro-2-fluoropropanoate (MCFP) are easily converted into methyl 2-fluoroacrylate (MFA). A roundabout strategy was put forward based on MFHP to overcome the shortcomings of MFA to extend its storage life and reduce its cost of shipment and storage. In our work, a novel and facile method for the synthesis of MFHP was developed based on Claisen salts and formaldehyde in water as followed: 37% formaldehyde aqueous (9.0 equiv.) was dropped into the aqueous of Claisen salt (1.0 equiv.) and NaHCO3 (1.0 equiv.) at room temperature for 2-3 h to obtain MFHP in yield of 81.3%.

Automated summary

The synthesis of MFHP from Claisen salts and formaldehyde in water is developed, providing a novel strategy to overcome the shortcomings of MFA and improve storage life and cost efficiency.