Direct Formylation of Fluorine-Containing Aromatics with Dichloromethyl Alkyl Ethers

Formylations of fluorine-containing aromatic compounds with dichloromethyl alkyl ethers have been investigated. Dichloromethyl propyl ether and dichloromethyl butyl ether have been applied for the formylation of fluorine-containing anisoles to give the corresponding aldehydes in good yields. Application of these ethers is preferable to that of methyl ether, which is prepared from volatile methyl formate. Reaction of fluorine-containing phenols with these dichloromethyl alkyl ethers did not give salicylaldehyde derivatives, leading instead to corresponding aryl formates in high yields. A plausible mechanism is discussed.