Improved syntheses of ethyl α-(bromomethyl)acrylate and 2-methylene-1,3- propanediol via ethyl α-(hydroxymethyl)acrylate

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)76221-6

Ethyl α-(bromomethyl)acrylate (1) and 2-methylene-1,3-propanediol (2) have been prepared via formalhedyde addition to ethyl acrylate in the presence of DABCO, giving α, β-unsaturated ester 3. Reduction of hydroxy ester 3 with one equivalent of alane, then borohydride reduction of the resulting aldehyde 4 gives 2.